Sorsdahl 2021.
| Study name | Addressing the mental health needs of adolescents in South African communities |
| Methods |
Study design: RCT Country: South Africa |
| Participants | Adolescents at risk for depression and alcohol use disorders Inclusion criteria: a. aged between 15 and 18 years old; b. rovide written informed assent/consent to participate in the study; c. written informed parental consent to participate if younger than 18 years of age; d. screen at risk for depression with a score ≥ 10 on the Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale short form (CES‐D‐10) and/or screen at moderate or severe risk for alcohol‐related health problems, with a score ≥ 5 on the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Use Involvement Test‐Youth (ASSIST‐Y); and report at least 2 episodes of heavy drinking (≥ 5 standard drinks on a single occasion) in the last month. Exclusion criteria: a. currently receiving any form of treatment for a mental or substance use disorder Stated purpose: to (i) test the feasibility and acceptability of the ASPIRE intervention as well as (ii) the feasibility of all study procedures and performance of outcome measures to inform a fully powered future trial. A second objective is to explore the initial effect of this intervention on days of heavy drinking and symptoms of depression. |
| Interventions |
Intervention: ASPIRE intervention ASPIRE intervention, a four‐session blended multi‐component counselling intervention adapted for South African adolescents at risk for depression and alcohol use disorders. Participants will receive session one as the control group (screening for heavy alcohol use and depression, feedback, psychoeducation and motivational interviewing), plus an additional three sessions of a blended multi‐component counselling intervention. The intervention is largely based on Lazarus and Folkman’s coping theory, teaches problem‐focused coping skills for mutable problems and emotion‐focused coping strategies (acceptance and seeking support) for immutable problems. All sessions have a motivational component, a psychoeducation component (in which participants are taught problem‐solving skills and how to apply them) and include an opportunity to apply newly learned skills through exercises and homework. From enrolment, participants in the intervention arm will have 6 weeks to receive all four sessions of the intervention. Each counselling session should be spaced at least 5 days apart, with the first session occurring immediately after the baseline assessment. The duration of each counselling session is approximately 45–60 min. Control: Active control: session 1 and referral to care (participants assigned to this arm will have received a single counselling session (~1 h in duration) prior to allocation. This is session one of the ASPIRE intervention, and the content and delivery of this session will be identical to that received by participants assigned to the intervention condition. The session will conclude with the participant setting personal goals and developing a plan for change, guided by the counsellor. Participants will also be given referrals to usual care providers for further follow‐up if required) |
| Outcomes |
Participants'outcomes of interest for this review
Economic outcomes Nil Time points: baseline, post‐intervention (6 weeks, and 3 months post‐randomization) |
| Starting date | 4 November 2019 (recruitment start date) Due to COVID‐19, all non‐essential community‐based research was put on hold from 17 March 2020. |
| Contact information | K. Sorsdahl, Katherine.sorsdahl@uct.ac.za |
| Notes |
Source of funding: Joint Global Health Trials Initiative with joint funding from the Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust and United Kingdom’s National Institutes for Health Research and Department for International Development (MR/R018464/1). BM is supported by the South African Medical Research Council. Prospective trial registration number: PACTR20200352214510 |