Feasibility trial of a brief scalable psychological intervention for Syrian refugee adolescents in Jordan
Background: Most refugees are less than 18 years and at heightened risk of common mental disorders (CMDs) relative to other youth. Limited evidence exists for psychosocial programsfor youth in low-resource settings. Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) was developed by the World Health Organi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2021-01-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1901408 |
| _version_ | 1797844551986053120 |
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| author | Aemal Akhtar Aiysha Malik Maha Ghatasheh Ibrahim Said Aqel Rand Habashneh Katie S. Dawson Sarah Watts Mark J. D. Jordans Felicity Brown Marit Sijbrandij Pim Cuijpers Richard Bryant |
| author_facet | Aemal Akhtar Aiysha Malik Maha Ghatasheh Ibrahim Said Aqel Rand Habashneh Katie S. Dawson Sarah Watts Mark J. D. Jordans Felicity Brown Marit Sijbrandij Pim Cuijpers Richard Bryant |
| author_sort | Aemal Akhtar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Most refugees are less than 18 years and at heightened risk of common mental disorders (CMDs) relative to other youth. Limited evidence exists for psychosocial programsfor youth in low-resource settings. Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) was developed by the World Health Organization to address this gap. Objectives: This study tested the safety, feasibility, and trial procedures of the EASE intervention among Syrian refugee youth in preparation for a definitive randomized controlled trial (RCT). Methods: A feasibility RCT was conducted in Amman, Jordan with Syrian children aged 10–14 years who reported psychological distress. Following community screening, youth and their caregivers were randomized to receive either the EASE intervention or enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU). EASE comprised seven group sessions teaching children coping skills, and caregivers received three group sessions to augment the youth sessions. Assessments were conducted at baseline and 1 week following the last EASE session (8 weeks following baseline). Following the trial, a qualitative process evaluation with staff and beneficiaries took place. Primary outcomes were safety and feasibility indicators, and distress was measured by the Paediatric Symptom Checklist. Results: In November 2018, 179 children were screened; 61 (33%) met criteria for distress (34.1%), two were excluded for suicidal risk, and 59 were randomized (EASE = 33, ETAU = 26). Of those who received EASE, 26 children (79%) completed the intervention. Group attendance was high and no adverse events were reported in either arm. Psychological distress did not show signs of abating in either group over time. Conclusion: This feasibility trial demonstrated the safety and acceptability of the intervention. Important lessons were learnt regarding entry criteria into the study and engagement of caregivers in the intervention. A fully powered randomized controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate the efficacy of EASE. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:24:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c808ea51b5ce45d6a269c93728749896 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:24:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c808ea51b5ce45d6a269c937287498962023-04-18T14:59:09ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662021-01-0112110.1080/20008198.2021.19014081901408Feasibility trial of a brief scalable psychological intervention for Syrian refugee adolescents in JordanAemal Akhtar0Aiysha Malik1Maha Ghatasheh2Ibrahim Said Aqel3Rand Habashneh4Katie S. Dawson5Sarah Watts6Mark J. D. Jordans7Felicity Brown8Marit Sijbrandij9Pim Cuijpers10Richard Bryant11VU UniversityWorld Health OrganizationKing Hussein FoundationKing Hussein FoundationKing Hussein FoundationUniversity of New South WalesWorld Health OrganizationWar Child HollandWar Child HollandVU UniversityVU UniversityUniversity of New South WalesBackground: Most refugees are less than 18 years and at heightened risk of common mental disorders (CMDs) relative to other youth. Limited evidence exists for psychosocial programsfor youth in low-resource settings. Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) was developed by the World Health Organization to address this gap. Objectives: This study tested the safety, feasibility, and trial procedures of the EASE intervention among Syrian refugee youth in preparation for a definitive randomized controlled trial (RCT). Methods: A feasibility RCT was conducted in Amman, Jordan with Syrian children aged 10–14 years who reported psychological distress. Following community screening, youth and their caregivers were randomized to receive either the EASE intervention or enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU). EASE comprised seven group sessions teaching children coping skills, and caregivers received three group sessions to augment the youth sessions. Assessments were conducted at baseline and 1 week following the last EASE session (8 weeks following baseline). Following the trial, a qualitative process evaluation with staff and beneficiaries took place. Primary outcomes were safety and feasibility indicators, and distress was measured by the Paediatric Symptom Checklist. Results: In November 2018, 179 children were screened; 61 (33%) met criteria for distress (34.1%), two were excluded for suicidal risk, and 59 were randomized (EASE = 33, ETAU = 26). Of those who received EASE, 26 children (79%) completed the intervention. Group attendance was high and no adverse events were reported in either arm. Psychological distress did not show signs of abating in either group over time. Conclusion: This feasibility trial demonstrated the safety and acceptability of the intervention. Important lessons were learnt regarding entry criteria into the study and engagement of caregivers in the intervention. A fully powered randomized controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate the efficacy of EASE.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1901408psychological interventionadolescenttrialmental healthpsychosocial support |
| spellingShingle | Aemal Akhtar Aiysha Malik Maha Ghatasheh Ibrahim Said Aqel Rand Habashneh Katie S. Dawson Sarah Watts Mark J. D. Jordans Felicity Brown Marit Sijbrandij Pim Cuijpers Richard Bryant Feasibility trial of a brief scalable psychological intervention for Syrian refugee adolescents in Jordan European Journal of Psychotraumatology psychological intervention adolescent trial mental health psychosocial support |
| title | Feasibility trial of a brief scalable psychological intervention for Syrian refugee adolescents in Jordan |
| title_full | Feasibility trial of a brief scalable psychological intervention for Syrian refugee adolescents in Jordan |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility trial of a brief scalable psychological intervention for Syrian refugee adolescents in Jordan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility trial of a brief scalable psychological intervention for Syrian refugee adolescents in Jordan |
| title_short | Feasibility trial of a brief scalable psychological intervention for Syrian refugee adolescents in Jordan |
| title_sort | feasibility trial of a brief scalable psychological intervention for syrian refugee adolescents in jordan |
| topic | psychological intervention adolescent trial mental health psychosocial support |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1901408 |
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