Table 2.

Our CIMO configuration

Component	Initial programme theory	Refined programme theory
Context	Conflict-affected females who are internally displaced in low-resource settings. Have experience of historic and collective trauma, social and gendered inequality, live in poor displacement conditions with poor access to services
Intervention	Group and individual psychotherapy (narrative exposure therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy and thought field therapy), livelihood programmes, EMDR, art therapy, relaxation techniques, counselling
Mechanism	Professional support Peer support Understanding emotional responses to trauma Helping others Reclaiming control	Safe spaces Mental health literacy Social connection Strong therapeutic relationship Gender-matching Cultural competency Empowerment
Outcome	Reduced PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Improved functioning scores, conduct behaviours, well-being

The context is the setting, the mechanism is a change in response or reasoning of participants upon introduction of the intervention, and outcomes are intended or unintended consequences of the intervention (Trickey et al., 2018). Our initial programme theory took into account authors' current views on which mechanisms may lead to positive mental health outcomes. This theory was tested and refined against results from the literature and stakeholder interviews.