Department of Psychology, University of Botswana, P/Bag UB00705, Gaborone, Botswana.
Leiden University, PO Box 9500, 2300 RB, Leiden, Netherlands.
Trials. 2019 Aug 9;20(1):486. doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3584-0.
The treatment of mental health issues among people living with HIV (PLH) in Botswana is yet to be addressed. A recent study revealed that depressive symptoms are highly prevalent in a sample of PLH in Botswana. Based on empirical findings of a study that investigated intervention targets for PLH in Botswana, a self-help program with coaching in booklet format in the Setswana and English languages was developed, composed of cognitive behavioral techniques, coping skills interventions, and goal adjustment training. We will investigate the program for effectiveness in the treatment of depressive symptoms among PLH. Additionally, we will investigate treatment moderators and mediators. This paper describes the study protocol.
METHODS/DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial will be conducted to compare the booklet self-help program with coaching with an attention-only control condition, by including pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessments. We aim to enroll 200 participants with mild to moderate depressive symptoms into the study. The self-help program contains the following main components: activation, relaxation, changing maladaptive cognitions, and the attainment of new personal goals. This content is covered over six lessons to be completed in a maximum of 8 weeks. It uses a combination of psycho-education, assignments, and exercises. The participants will work on the program 1-2 h every week for 6 weeks (maximum 8 weeks). Coaches will offer support and motivate the participants. For both groups, depressive symptoms and possible mediators will be measured three times during the intervention, and at pre-test, post-test, and follow-up.
If the intervention is found to effectively treat depressive symptoms, it will be implemented and thus help improve the psychological health of PLH in Botswana.
Netherlands Trial Register, NTR7428 . Registered on 23 August 2018.
博茨瓦纳尚未解决艾滋病毒感染者（PLHIV）心理健康问题的治疗。最近的一项研究表明，博茨瓦纳 PLHIV 样本中普遍存在抑郁症状。根据对博茨瓦纳 PLHIV 进行干预目标调查的研究的实证结果，开发了一种以斯瓦托语和英语小册子格式提供辅导的自助计划，其中包含认知行为技术、应对技能干预和目标调整训练。我们将调查该计划在治疗 PLHIV 抑郁症状方面的有效性。此外，我们还将调查治疗调节剂和调解员。本文介绍了研究方案。
方法/设计：将进行一项随机对照试验，通过包括前测、后测和随访评估，将带辅导的小册子自助计划与仅关注的对照组进行比较。我们计划招募 200 名有轻度至中度抑郁症状的参与者参加研究。自助计划包含以下主要内容：激活、放松、改变不良认知和实现新的个人目标。这部分内容涵盖六节课，最多 8 周完成。它结合了心理教育、作业和练习。参与者将在 6 周内（最多 8 周）每周完成 1-2 小时的课程。教练将提供支持并激励参与者。对于两个组，在干预期间将三次测量抑郁症状和可能的调解因素，以及在前测、后测和随访时。
如果干预措施被证明可以有效治疗抑郁症状，它将被实施，从而有助于改善博茨瓦纳 PLHIV 的心理健康。
荷兰试验注册处，NTR7428。于 2018 年 8 月 23 日注册。
