Depression Treatment and Economic Empowerment

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This pilot study randomized 48 depressed rural Bangladeshi housewives to either intervention or control groups. The intervention groups received depression treatment and a financial empowerment intervention.

Detailed Description
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This study was conducted in the rural Sirajganj region of Bangladesh. Working with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh and a local NGO, we recruited 48 depressed rural housewives for the study. Participants were randomized into intervention in control groups. The intervention groups (n=24) received 12 sessions of evidence based depression treatment, financial literacy education, agricultural training and skill building. They opened bank accounts and saved for six months. At the end of the six month period, participants who had met savings and attendance requirements received a cash transfer of approximately $186, which was used to purchase a productive asset. 22 participants purchased an agricultural animal, usually a goat; 1 financed a small retail business, and 1 leased land to grow crops for sale. Depression scores on the PHD-9 were sharply reduced. The study had 100% retention.

Official Title
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The ASHA Project: Pilot Study of a Depression Treatment/Economic Empowerment

Conditions
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Depressive Symptoms

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Group based treatment


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age 18-40 PHQ greater than 10 Able to save Able to read and write Exclusion Criteria: Not in age range PhQ below 10 Unable to contribute to savings account Illiterate

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: 48 women randomized to either intervention or control.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control Group<br>No intervention | |
| Experimental: Treatment Group<br>Experimental group received 12 session of group based depression treatment, a matched savings program, financial literacy training, agricultural training, and a cash transfer. | Behavioral: Group based treatment<br>* 12 sessions of group based therapy that included cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and interpersonal therapy<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Depressive Symptoms | symptoms on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHD-9), ranging from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating worse outcomes | 12 months post baseline | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Retention | Percentage of participants in the intervention group completing the intervention | Assessed at 12 Months post basline |