Theresa S. Betancourt|Ryan McBain|Elizabeth A. Newnham|Adeyinka M. Akinsulure?Smith|Robert T. Brennan|John R. Weisz|Nathan B. Hansen
A Behavioral Intervention for War-Affected Youth in Sierra Leone: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Harvard University|University of Western Australia|City College of New York|Harvard University|Harvard University|University of Georgia
objective youth waraffected regions risk poor psychological social educational outcomes effective interventions needed improve mental health social behavior school functioning randomized controlled trial tested effectiveness 10session cognitivebehavioral therapy cbtbased group mental health intervention multisymptomatic waraffected youth aged 1524 years sierra leone method waraffected youth identified elevated distress impairment via community screening randomized stratified sex age youth readiness intervention yri n 222 control condition n 214 treatment youth randomized offered education subsidy immediately n 220 waitlisted n 216 emotion regulation psychological distress prosocial attitudesbehaviors social support functional impairment posttraumatic stress disorder ptsd symptoms assessed pre postintervention 6month followup youth school enrollment attendance classroom performance assessed 8 months linear mixedeffects regressions evaluated outcomes results yri showed significant postintervention effects emotion regulation prosocial attitudesbehaviors social support reduced functional impairment significant followup effects school enrollment school attendance classroom behavior contrast education subsidy associated better attendance effect mental health functioning school retention classroom behavior interactions education subsidy yri significant conclusion yri produced acute improvements mental health functioning well longerterm effects school engagement behavior suggesting potential prepare waraffected youth educational opportunities clinical trial registration informationtrial youth readiness intervention yri httpclinicaltrialsgov nct01684488 youth waraffected regions risk poor psychological social educational outcomes effective interventions needed improve mental health social behavior school functioning randomized controlled trial tested effectiveness 10session cognitivebehavioral therapy cbtbased group mental health intervention multisymptomatic waraffected youth aged 1524 years sierra leone waraffected youth identified elevated distress impairment via community screening randomized stratified sex age youth readiness intervention yri n 222 control condition n 214 treatment youth randomized offered education subsidy immediately n 220 waitlisted n 216 emotion regulation psychological distress prosocial attitudesbehaviors social support functional impairment posttraumatic stress disorder ptsd symptoms assessed pre postintervention 6month followup youth school enrollment attendance classroom performance assessed 8 months linear mixedeffects regressions evaluated outcomes yri showed significant postintervention effects emotion regulation prosocial attitudesbehaviors social support reduced functional impairment significant followup effects school enrollment school attendance classroom behavior contrast education subsidy associated better attendance effect mental health functioning school retention classroom behavior interactions education subsidy yri significant yri produced acute improvements mental health functioning well longerterm effects school engagement behavior suggesting potential prepare waraffected youth educational opportunities clinical trial registration informationtrial youth readiness intervention yri httpclinicaltrialsgov nct01684488