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Group interpersonal psychotherapy for depression in rural Uganda: 6-month outcomes

Randomised controlled trial

Applied Mental Health Research Group (AMHR), Center for International Health and Development, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts

RICHARD NEUGEBAUER

Epidemiology of Developmental Brain Disorders Department, New York State Psychiatric Institute, G. H. Sergievsky Center, Faculty of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, and Department of International Health, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana

KATHLEEN F. CLOUGHERTY, HELEN VERDELI and PRIYA WICKRAMARATNE

Division of Clinical and Genetic Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York

LINCOLN NDOGONI

World Vision International, Washington, DC, USA

LIESBETH SPEELMAN

War Child Netherlands, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

MYRNA WEISSMAN

Division of Clinical and Genetic Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York

PAUL BOLTON

AMHR, Center for International Health and Development, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Correspondence: Dr Judith Bass, Center for International Health and Development, Boston University School of Public Health, 85 East Concord Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02118, USA. Tel: +1 617 414 1264; fax: +1 617 414 1261; e-mail: jbass{at}bu.edu

Declaration of interest None.

Background A randomised controlled trial comparing group interpersonal psychotherapy with treatment as usual among rural Ugandans meeting symptom and functional impairment criteria for DSM–IV major depressive disorder or sub-threshold disorder showed evidence of effectiveness immediately following the intervention.

Aims To assess the long-term effectiveness of this therapy over a subsequent 6-month period.

Method A follow-up study of trial participants was conducted in which the primary outcomes were depression diagnosis, depressive symptoms and functional impairment.

Results At 6 months, participants receiving the group interpersonal psychotherapy had mean depression symptom and functional impairment scores respectively 14.0 points (95% CI 12.2–15.8; P<0.0001) and 5.0 points (95% CI 3.6–6.4; P<0.0001) lower than the control group. Similarly, the rate of major depression among those in the treatment arm (11.7%) was significantly lower than that in the control arm (54.9%) (P<0.0001).

Conclusions Participation in a 16-week group interpersonal psychotherapy intervention continued to confer a substantial mental health benefit 6 months after conclusion of the formal intervention.

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