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Culturally Adapted Psychological Support for Conflict-Affected Afghans: Study Protocol on Mental Health & Violence

NCT06980441 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 60

Last updated 2025-05-20

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This pilot study examines the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally adapted psychological intervention-Problem Management Plus with Emotional Processing (PM+ EP)-for young Afghans aged 16-30 experiencing high psychological distress. Through a pilot randomized control trial and qualitative interviews, the study explores whether PM+ EP can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and aggression, and improve daily functioning. Findings will inform the potential for a larger trial and address critical mental health and violence prevention needs in conflict-affected Afghan communities.

Conditions

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Problem Management Plus with Emotional Processing module

PM+ EP comprises of Problem Management Plus, an evidence-based low intensity psychological intervention developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), with an additional Emotional Processing module specifically to address psychological distress related to trauma exposure. The core of the intervention is designed for adults impaired by distress in communities exposed to conflict and adversity; it consists of CBT techniques that have been adapted for communities that do not have good availability of specialist care. The additional module was developed by researchers treating refugee youth (Alozkan Sever et al, 2021). For this study, PM+ EP will be a six-session individual and guided support program. The original sections of PM+ are available in many languages including Farsi, and the additional EP module will be translated by PoMA's Afghan translator. The sessions cover the topics of managing stress, strengthening social support, staying well and persevering.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • VU University of Amsterdam

    collaborator OTHER

  • Peace of Mind Association (PoMA)

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Lyla L Schwartz, Masters · Peace of Mind Association (PoMA)

Study Design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
16 Years
Max Age
30 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-06-30
Primary Completion
2025-12-31
Completion
2026-12-31

Countries

  • Afghanistan

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06980441 on ClinicalTrials.gov