NCT07500142

Evaluation of the Group Problem Management Plus (Group PM+) Pilot Study in Oromia and Amhara Regional States, Ethiopia

• Status: Withdrawn
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 0 (actual)
• Sponsor: International Food Policy Research Institute · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 59 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Mental health disorders are among the leading causes of the global health-related burden. Mental health disorders are exacerbated by poverty and exposure to adversity like conflict and adverse shocks. Despite the high prevalence, adequate care for mental illness is mainly inaccessible in low- and middle-income countries. Given the bidirectional link between poverty and mental health and the limited mental health treatment in many low income settings, combining antipoverty interventions with psychotherapy delivered by non-specialists may be promising. Using a randomized control trial design, this study will compare the impact of a psychotherapy program, group Problem Management plus, with and without a one-time lump sum cash transfer on mental health, daily activities, and economic outcomes among Productive Safety Net Program clients in the regions of Amhara and Oromia.

Conditions

• Mental Health Issue

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	group Problem Management Plus	Problem Management Plus (PM+) is an intervention developed by WHO in 2013 to address common mental health problems such as depression, stress, and anxiety. It involves problem management (PM) plus (+) selected behavioral strategies to address both psychological issues (e.g., stress, fear, feelings of helplessness) and practical problems (e.g., livelihood problems, conflict in the family) (World Health Organization 2016). It was conceived initially as individual counselling composed of 5 sessions. In villages randomized to the gPM+ treatment, same-sex therapy groups of 3 to 8 individuals will be formed and facilitated by Community Health Facilitators (CHF) for women and Men's Group Facilitators (MGF) for men.
OTHER	Cash	Eligible households in villages randomized to the Cash treatment will also receive a one-time lump sum transfer worth the equivalent value in Birr of $300 USD. While the transfer is unconditional, it will be presented as a 'livelihoods transfer' to support income-generating activities that improve livelihoods.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-06-23
• Primary completion: 2024-01-30
• Completion: 2024-01-30
• First posted: 2026-03-30
• Last updated: 2026-03-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Ethiopia