Evaluation of an Integrated Microfinance and Depression Care Program for Women
Condition: Depression
MeSH terms: Depression; Depressive Disorder
Study type: Interventional

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.
    

Intervention name(s): Integrated Depression/Microfinance Group; Treatment as Usual; Livelihood Support
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): 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.; National Guideline for antidepressant care; Livelihood support, including group-based loans to develop small enterprise, personal finance management education, business management skills, vocational training, and rotating-credit savings program.
Other intervention name(s): LIFE-DM Group; Guideline antidepressant care; Fluoxetine, Amitrytaline; other antidepressants; Microfinance loans
Intervention MeSH terms: Fluoxetine; Antidepressive Agents
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Behavior Activation; Problem solving therapy; Depression Treatment; depression care integration; microfinance; livelihood