Depression Treatment and Economic Empowerment

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Depressive Symptoms
• Interventions: Behavioral: Group based treatment

• Registration Number: NCT04532008
• Lead Sponsor: Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Brief Summary

This pilot study randomized 48 depressed rural Bangladeshi housewives to either intervention or control groups. The intervention groups received depression treatment and a financial empowerment intervention.

Detailed Description

This study was conducted in the rural Sirajganj region of Bangladesh. Working with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh and a local NGO, we recruited 48 depressed rural housewives for the study. Participants were randomized into intervention in control groups. The intervention groups (n=24) received 12 sessions of evidence based depression treatment, financial literacy education, agricultural training and skill building. They opened bank accounts and saved for six months. At the end of the six month period, participants who had met savings and attendance requirements received a cash transfer of approximately $186, which was used to purchase a productive asset. 22 participants purchased an agricultural animal, usually a goat; 1 financed a small retail business, and 1 leased land to grow crops for sale. Depression scores on the PHD-9 were sharply reduced. The study had 100% retention.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-09-01
• Primary Completion: 2014-09-01
• Status Verified: 2020-08
• Study Completion: 2020-08-15
• Study First Submitted: 2020-08-24
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-08-28
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-08-28
• Study First Posted: 2020-08-31
• Last Update Posted: 2020-08-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 48

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 18-40
• PHQ greater than 10
• Able to save
• Able to read and write

Exclusion Criteria

• Not in age range PhQ below 10 Unable to contribute to savings account Illiterate

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Treatment Group	Group based treatment	Experimental group received 12 session of group based depression treatment, a matched savings program, financial literacy training, agricultural training, and a cash transfer.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Depressive Symptoms	12 months post baseline	symptoms on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHD-9), ranging from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating worse outcomes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Retention	Assessed at 12 Months post basline	Percentage of participants in the intervention group completing the intervention