Depression Treatment and Economic Empowerment — ASHA  

Depressive Symptoms Clinical Trial

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

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

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.

Clinical Trial Description

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. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Depression
• Depressive Symptoms

• NCT number: NCT04532008
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 1, 2012
• Completion date: August 15, 2020