NCT02069301

Evaluation of an Integrated Microfinance and Depression Care Program for Women

Development of an Integrated Microfinance and Depression Care Program for Women

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 166 (actual)
• Sponsor: RAND · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The study evaluates LIFE-DM, an integrated microfinance and collaborative care intervention by comparing it to enhanced treatment as usual (national guideline antidepressant care and referral to microfinance resources) in Vietnam. Intervention effects at baseline, 6 month, and 12 month follow-up on patient outcomes, including depression, anxiety, quality of life, functioning, self-efficacy, satisfaction, and income will be compared across the two conditions.

Detailed description

Depression is one of the largest contributors to the world's health burden. Prior work in the Partners in Care study has shown that evidence-based service delivery programs for depression can improve health outcomes in depressed patients, and especially in minorities, largely overcoming disparities in outcomes from care between whites and minorities. Effective treatments exist, but they do not reach many depressed individuals, especially in resource-poor communities--ethnic minorities, rural residents in the United States, and individuals in most of the developing world. Women, in particular, are at risk for depression and poverty. Integrating programs that treat depression and address livelihood concerns may improve engagement in depression treatment and improve mental health and functioning for patients in low-resource settings. The proposed study would integrate depression care with existing "microfinance" programs, which provide poverty-alleviation services including small loans, savings programs, and vocational training to women. This project will (1) conduct qualitative studies of barriers and facilitators of women's successful use of existing depression care and microfinance programs; (2) adapt and integrate the depression care and microfinance services; (3) train Women's Union facilitators to deliver the integrated depression care and microfinance program; and conduct evaluation of LIFE-DM program to assess acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness. The non-randomized control trial compares the integrated microfinance and collaborative care intervention with enhanced treatment as usual (national guideline antidepressant care and referral to microfinance resources) at the Women's Union in Danang city in Vietnam.

Conditions

• Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Integrated Depression/Microfinance Group	LIFE-DM Integrated Depression and Microfinance group, uses behavior activation and problem solving therapy skills to teach patients how to manage mood and reach livelihood goals.
OTHER	Treatment as Usual	National Guideline for antidepressant care
OTHER	Livelihood Support	Livelihood support, including group-based loans to develop small enterprise, personal finance management education, business management skills, vocational training, and rotating-credit savings program.

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-02-01
• Primary completion: 2015-09-01
• Completion: 2016-09-01
• First posted: 2014-02-24
• Last updated: 2017-11-30

Locations

4 sites across 1 country: Vietnam