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Published in: Trials 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Study protocol

Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) intervention for the treatment of psychological distress in adolescents: study protocol for randomised controlled trials in Lebanon and Jordan

Authors: Felicity L. Brown, Frederik Steen, Karine Taha, May Aoun, Richard A. Bryant, Mark J. D. Jordans, Aiysha Malik, Mark van Ommeren, Adnan Abualhaija, Ibrahim Said Aqel, Maha Ghatasheh, Rand Habashneh, Marit Sijbrandij, Rabih El Chammay, Sarah Watts, Aemal Akhtar, on behalf of the STRENGTHS-consortium

Published in: Trials | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

There are significant barriers to providing accessible, quality mental health care for young adolescents affected by adversity. In an attempt to overcome this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed the Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) psychological intervention for young adolescents with internalising problems. EASE is group-based (seven sessions for adolescents, three sessions for their caregivers) and can be delivered by non-specialist providers. This paper outlines the study protocols for two trials of EASE in the Middle East - one in Lebanon and one in Jordan.

Methods

We will conduct two, single-blind, two-arm, individually randomised group treatment trials in Lebanon and Jordan, with at least 445 young adolescents per trial. Adolescents will be screened eligible for the trial if they demonstrate levels of psychological distress indicative of internalizing problems requiring treatment. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the EASE intervention, or enhanced usual care (one home-visit psychoeducation session). The primary outcome is reduction in overall child-reported psychological distress over time, with 3 months post-treatment as the primary end point. Secondary child-reported outcomes include post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression symptoms, daily functioning, and wellbeing. Secondary caregiver-reported outcomes include parenting style, overall child distress, and caregiver psychological distress. Coping strategy use will be explored as a mediator of treatment effects in Lebanon, and relevant moderators of treatment effects will be explored.

Discussion

These trials will provide the first assessments of the effectiveness of the EASE intervention for use in the Middle East, with important implications for the use of low-intensity, non-specialist interventions for this age range.

Trial registration

Lebanon: ISRCTN75375136. Registered on 11 March 2019.
Jordan: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12619000341123. Registered on 5 March 2019 (https://​www.​anzctr.​org.​au/​)
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) intervention for the treatment of psychological distress in adolescents: study protocol for randomised controlled trials in Lebanon and Jordan
Authors
Felicity L. Brown
Frederik Steen
Karine Taha
May Aoun
Richard A. Bryant
Mark J. D. Jordans
Aiysha Malik
Mark van Ommeren
Adnan Abualhaija
Ibrahim Said Aqel
Maha Ghatasheh
Rand Habashneh
Marit Sijbrandij
Rabih El Chammay
Sarah Watts
Aemal Akhtar
on behalf of the STRENGTHS-consortium
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Trials / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3654-3

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