B A Kohrt
Biographic Data
| ID | 12335 |
|---|---|
| NAME | B A Kohrt |
| GIVEN NAMES | B A |
| FAMILY NAME | Kohrt |
| SIGNATURE | KOHRT B A |
| AFFILIATIONS | George Washington University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-3829-4820 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 135 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 319 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 135 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2004 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 11 |
Feasibility, acceptability, and pilot effectiveness of a social-contact-based intervention to reduce mental health-related stigma among primary care providers in China, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, and Tun…
Feasibility, acceptability, and pilot effectiveness of a social-contact-based intervention to reduce mental health-related stigma among primary care providers in China, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, and Tunisia: Findings from a multi-site pre-post study
An evaluation of non-specialist training and delivery of a brief cognitive-behavioral therapy-based transdiagnostic intervention for adolescents with depression and anxiety in Nairobi, Kenya
Objective: This study evaluated 1) foundational helping competencies for Non-Specialist Providers (NSPs) trained in a transdiagnostic CBT-based intervention (PRO-ACT) for adolescents with anxiety and depression in Nairobi, Kenya and 2) preliminary clinical outcomes for adolescents receiving PRO-ACT.Method: Seventeen NSPs were trained and assessed using role plays at pre-training, post-training, and post-supervision using the Enhancing Assessment …
Relief from stress via social protection in Senegal (Restore)
Background Despite the growing prevalence of mental health disorders in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), significant barriers to seeking and accessing mental health services persist. Within lower-income populations, the prevalence of mental health disorders and barriers to addressing them are worsened by poverty. Self-Help Plus (SH+) is a group-based stress management program delivered using a task-sharing model and designed to circumven…
Perspectives on non-specialist training for mental health care delivery in South Africa
Task-sharing, or the distribution of tasks to non-specialists, is a key strategy for expanding access to mental health services, particularly in low- and lower-middle income countries. However, training practices are not standardized and non-specialist training outcomes in mental health care are variable. A better understanding of current practices and challenges in task-shared mental health care training is much needed to help improve training o…
Contextually salient barriers and facilitators to implementing community-based mental health interventions delivered by non-specialists in Senegal
Mental health conditions represent a major global burden. However, minimally adequate treatment coverage for common mental disorders remains critically low. Task-sharing solutions using non-specialist providers are promising, but successful implementation requires understanding local culture and context. This study explored facilitators and barriers to implementing non-specialist mental health interventions in Senegal. We conducted in-depth quali…
Transcultural translation and adaptation of EuroQol’s EQ-5D-5L for Nepal
Assessment of key interviewing factors for research assistants (Akira)
Data quality is critical in mental health research, yet there is considerable variability in the training and preparation of those involved in data collection. Individuals with limited research training often play a central role in collecting data and, to date, no systematic means of evaluating researcher competencies exists. The Assessment of Key Interviewing factors for Research Assistants (AKIRA), a competency-based tool for researchers conduc…
Feasibility of Problem Management Plus to Improve Refugee Psychological Support in the U.S. Midwest
Community-engaged approaches to addressing mental health concerns have reduced health inequities experienced by refugee communities. Problem Management Plus (PM+)—a brief psychological intervention developed by the World Health Organization—has shown effectiveness in improving mental health and well-being of adults experiencing distress. This paper documents lessons learned during the implementation of the first PM+ pilot program among refugee co…
Mixed-methods evaluation of a Global South-North research fellowship in Uganda
Integrated, simultaneous training of Global South and North trainees offers novel opportunities to enhance equitable collaboration and research capacity in global health. While existing programs often focus on exchange rotations or separate training tracks, simultaneous training of Global South and North trainees in the same intensive program remains understudied. We describe the Global Health Experiential Fellowship (GHEF), which combines resear…
Treatment of depression by traditional faith healers in Nepal
This study explored the assessment and treatment practices of traditional faith healers for patients with depression, as well as their beliefs about the causes of depression, in Nepal. In-depth interviews were conducted using a narrative approach to allow participants to share their experiences and perspectives through storytelling. A vignette depicting a woman with depression symptoms was used to investigate traditional faith healers' beliefs ab…
Clarification of policy on retractions
A guide to selecting psychological interventions that can be delivered by people who are not mental health specialists in low-resource settings
Globally, most individuals with mental health conditions lack access to specialized care. One strategy to bridge this gap is training people who are not mental health professionals (non-specialists) to deliver brief, manualized psychological interventions, which have demonstrated effectiveness across diverse settings. However, selecting the most suitable intervention for specific populations, contexts, and psychological needs in low-resource sett…
Feasibility and Applicability of Implementing the Framework for Comprehensive Understanding of Structural Stigma in Mental Healthcare Systems
INTRODUCTION: Mental health-related structural stigma is a multifaceted issue that significantly impacts access to quality mental healthcare, particularly in low-resource settings like Nepal. Therefore, there is a clear need to understand the complexities and identify gaps for targeted interventions through evaluations of various dimensions of structural stigma within healthcare systems. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and applicabilit…
Coping strategies among poverty-affected adolescents experiencing or at risk of depression and anxiety in Nepal
Adolescents employ various coping strategies to manage stress, which can impact their short and long-term mental health. Economically disadvantaged adolescents are more prone to developing maladaptive coping mechanisms due to the persistent stressors associated with poverty. In Nepal, there is a lack of research on how adolescents experiencing or at risk of depression and anxiety cope with adverse situations. This study aims to explore how adoles…
Facilitators in treatment pathways for depression or anxiety among adults in Nepal
Treatment pathways for depression and anxiety disorders are complex, often involving multiple sessions with various service providers and a combination of services. It is crucial to improve healthcare providers' behavior, appointment scheduling, and consultation quality to encourage individuals to seek care. Raising awareness about mental health conditions and available services through different channels and training traditional healers in menta…
Translation and Adaptation of the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-Revised and Rugged Resilience Measure
Resilience, the capacity to adapt positively in adversity, is a key protective factor for adolescent well-being, particularly for depression and anxiety, which are highly prevalent among adolescents in Nepal. Accurate measurement across cultural contexts is essential to identify at-risk adolescents and understand protective mechanisms. This study culturally adapted and evaluated the psychometric properties of the Child and Youth Resilience Measur…
Cultural adaptation process of six stigma assessment scales among Kannada speaking population in South India
For several years stigma researchers in India have relied on Western instruments or semi-structured stigma scales in their studies. However, these scales have not been rigorously translated and adapted to the local cultural framework. In the current study, we describe the cultural adaptation of six stigma scales with the purpose of using it in the native language (Kannada) based on translation steps of forward translation, expert review and synth…
Why can’t we talk about suicide
Despite reductions in cardiovascular, cancer, and infectious disease, comparable public-health improvements in mental health have not materialized. Global dissemination of trainings and programs have not translated into reduced burden of mental health conditions. Detection in primary care remains uncommon, sustained delivery of psychological services is difficult, few governments prioritize mental health, and reliable data are scarce. A largely u…
Piloting competency assessments for an evidence-based brief psychological intervention with Arabic-speaking non-specialists in Switzerland
The global challenge of closing the treatment gap highlights the need for innovative interventions. Problem Management Plus (PM+), developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), is an evidence-based brief psychological intervention designed to address this gap by involving non-specialist helpers. In this study, ‘non-specialists’ or ‘helpers’ are individuals without formal training in mental health, who have been trained in and have been delive…
Data-driven supervision to optimize the effectiveness of proactive case detection for mental health care among children
This proof-of-concept study evaluated an optimization strategy for the Community Case Detection Tool (CCDT) aimed at improving community-level mental health detection and help-seeking among children aged 6–18 years. The optimization strategy, CCDT+, combined data-driven supervision with motivational interviewing techniques and behavioural nudges for community gatekeepers using the CCDT. This mixed-methods study was conducted from January to May 2…
Community-based adaptation of early adolescent skills for emotions for urban adolescents and caregivers in New York City
An increasing number of studies have sought to explore the applicability of scalable mental health interventions to bridge the adolescent mental health treatment gap. This study aimed to adapt the World Health Organization’s mental health intervention Early Adolescent Skills for Emotion (EASE) for urban communities in New York City (NYC). Following the mental health Cultural Adaptation and Contextualization for Implementation framework and in col…
Integrating Equip competency-based training into a university curriculum
Introduction: Competency-based training has gained prominence in clinical psychology education, emphasizing practical skills acquisition. The EQUIP competency-based approach, recognized for its effectiveness in in-service training, raises questions about its feasibility and utility in pre-service education. Methods: Faculty and supervisors were trained in and applied EQUIP competency-based assessment and techniques with current graduate students.…
Engaging husbands in a digital mental health intervention to provide tailored counseling for women experiencing postpartum depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common experience among mothers worldwide. Family members, especially husbands, can play an integral role in supporting and helping mothers recover from PPD. However, husbands are typically not included in interventions to address postpartum depression among women. This study explored husbands’ perspectives on engaging in a counseling intervention augmented with a digital health component for the treatment of PPD.…
No prediction without prevention
Given the rate of advancement in predictive psychiatry, there is a threat that it outpaces public and professional willingness for use in clinical care and public health. Prediction tools in psychiatry estimate the risk of future development of mental health conditions. Prediction tools used with young populations have the potential to reduce the worldwide burden of depression. However, little is known globally about adolescents' and other stakeh…
Comparing implementation strategies for training and supervising nonspecialists in Group Problem Management Plus
Migrants and refugees face elevated risks for mental health problems but have limited access to services. This study compared two strategies for training and supervising nonspecialists to deliver a scalable psychological intervention, Group Problem Management Plus (gPM+), in northern Colombia. Adult women who reported elevated psychological distress and functional impairment were randomized to receive gPM+ delivered by nonspecialists who received…
Navigating Diagnoses
Idioms of distress, ethnopsychology, and the clinical encounter in Haiti's Central Plateau
Receding horizons of health
Strategies for assessing mental health in Haiti
The lack of culturally appropriate mental health assessment instruments is a major barrier to screening and evaluating efficacy of interventions. Simple translation of questionnaires produces misleading and inaccurate conclusions. Multiple alternate approaches have been proposed, and this study compared two approaches tested in rural Haiti. First, an established transcultural translation process was used to develop Haitian Kreyòl versions of the …
Promises and pitfalls of data sharing in qualitative research
Reflechi twòp-Thinking Too Much
Distribution of distress in post-socialist Mongolia
Perceived discrimination, humiliation, and mental health
Both qualitative and quantitative methods suggest that perceived discrimination and the experience of humiliation contribute to Haitian migrant mental ill-health and limit access to health care. Future research should evaluate these associations and identify intervention pathways for both improved treatment access and reduction of discrimination-related health risk factors
Somatization" and "Comorbidity
Research on depression in non-Western settings has focused on “somatization,” defined as recurrent bodily complaints among persons with psychological distress. Such studies have often recorded higher rates of somatization in non-Western groups compared to Western settings, fueling speculation about cross-cultural differences in the physical manifestation of psychiatric disorders. However, few of these studies have rigorously considered possible p…
Social Ecology of Child Soldiers
This study employed a social ecology framework to evaluate psychosocial well-being in a cross-sectional sample of 142 former child soldiers in Nepal. Outcome measures included the Depression Self Rating Scale (DSRS), Child Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale (CPSS), and locally developed measures of functional impairment and reintegration. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine the contribution of factors at multiple levels. At …
Reducing mental illness stigma in healthcare settings
Suicide in rural Haiti
Applying Nepali Ethnopsychology to Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Mental Illness and Prevention of Suicide Among Bhutanese Refugees
Addressing mental health needs of 100,000 ethnic Nepali Bhutanese refugees relocated from Nepal is a new challenge for mental health clinicians in the receiving countries. A limitation of current services is the lack of knowledge about cultural understandings of mental health. Ethnopsychology is the study of emotions, suffering, the self, and social relationships from a cultural perspective. Nepali ethnopsychology can be used to develop and adapt…
Satisfaction in the Soul
To explore the relationship between traditional healers and conventional psychotherapy, we conducted a combined ethnographic study and structured observational rating of healers in the middle hill region of central Nepal. We conducted in-depth interviews and ethnographic observations of healing with 84 participants comprising 29 traditional healers and 55 other community members. Overall, our observations and participant responses yielded a range…
Ethnographic Methods for Identifying Cultural Concepts of Distress
We review ethnographic methods that allow researchers to assess distress in a culturally sensitive manner. We begin with an overview of standardized biomedical and psychological approaches to assessing distress cross-culturally. We then focus on literature describing the development of reliable and valid culturally sensitive assessment tools that can serve as complements or alternatives to biomedical categories and diagnostic frameworks. The meth…
Recruitment of child soldiers in Nepal
Preventing involuntary conscription and voluntary recruitment of youth into armed groups are global human rights priorities. Pathways for self-reported voluntary recruitment and the impact of voluntary recruitment on mental health have received limited attention. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for voluntarily joining armed groups, as well as the association of conscription status and mental health. In Nepal, interviews w…
Adapting the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Model of Polic e–M ental Health Collaboration in a Low-Income, Post-Conflict Country
Objectives. We sought to develop a curriculum and collaboration model for law enforcement and mental health services in Liberia, West Africa. Methods. In 2013 we conducted key informant interviews with law enforcement officers, mental health clinicians, and mental health service users in Liberia, and facilitated a 3-day curriculum workshop. Results. Mental health service users reported prior violent interactions with officers. Officers and clinic…
A cross-cultural interpersonal model of adolescent depression
Most cross-cultural qualitative research on depression has been descriptive, documenting symptoms and explanatory models. There is a lack of qualitative research testing theoretical models of depression. The interpersonal model conceptualises grief, interpersonal disputes, role transitions and social isolation as the context in which depression develops and is the basis of interpersonal therapy (IPT), which is increasingly used in cross-cultural …
Scale properties of the Kreyòl Distress Idioms (KDI) screener
Psychiatric instruments have limitations cross-culturally due to variations in conceptualizations and communication of mental distress. We evaluated a locally-developed screening tool for measuring mental distress in rural Haiti. We employed mixed methods to develop the Kreyòl Distress Idioms (KDI) screening tool. We piloted the KDI in an epidemiologic survey (n = 408) and assessed it using principal component analysis and comparison with the Bec…
Syndemic effects in complex humanitarian emergencies
Reassessing the Mental Health Treatment Gap
Cholera control and anti-Haitian stigma in the Dominican Republic
As cholera spread from Haiti to the Dominican Republic, Haitian migrants, a largely undocumented and stigmatized population in Dominican society, became a focus of public health concern. Concurrent to the epidemic, the Dominican legislature enacted new documentation requirements. This paper presents findings from an ethnographic study of anti-Haitian stigma in the Dominican Republic from June to August 2012. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) w…
The ecocultural context and child behavior problems
Child Soldiers after War
In-Home Passive Sensor Data Collection and Its Implications for Social Media Research
There has been a recent increase in debates on the ethics of social media research, passive sensor data collection, and big data analytics. However, little evidence exists to describe how people experience and understand these applications of technology. This study aimed to passively collect data from mobile phone sensors, lapel cameras, and Bluetooth beacons to assess people's understanding and acceptance of these technologies. Seven households …
An Ecological?Transactional Model of Significant Risk Factors for Child Psychopathology in Outer Mongolia
Distribution of distress in post-socialist Mongolia
Estimating between- and within-individual variation in cortisol levels using multilevel models
Receding horizons of health
Somatization" and "Comorbidity
Research on depression in non-Western settings has focused on “somatization,” defined as recurrent bodily complaints among persons with psychological distress. Such studies have often recorded higher rates of somatization in non-Western groups compared to Western settings, fueling speculation about cross-cultural differences in the physical manifestation of psychiatric disorders. However, few of these studies have rigorously considered possible p…
Comparison of Mental Health Between Former Child Soldiers and Children Never Conscripted by Armed Groups in Nepal
CONTEXT: Former child soldiers are considered in need of special mental health interventions. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the mental health of child soldiers compared with civilian children in armed conflicts. OBJECTIVE: To compare the mental health status of former child soldiers with that of children who have never been conscripts of armed groups. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional cohort study conducted in…
Navigating Diagnoses
Culture and epidemiology special issue
Culture in psychiatric epidemiology
Caste-based disparities in mental health in rural Nepal are statistically mediated by poverty, lack of social support, and stressful life events. Interventions should target these areas to alleviate the excess mental health burden born by Dalit/Nepali women and men
Child Soldiers after War
Nepali Concepts of Psychological Trauma
Political violence and mental health
Culture, status and context in community health worker pay
Social Ecology of Child Soldiers
This study employed a social ecology framework to evaluate psychosocial well-being in a cross-sectional sample of 142 former child soldiers in Nepal. Outcome measures included the Depression Self Rating Scale (DSRS), Child Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale (CPSS), and locally developed measures of functional impairment and reintegration. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine the contribution of factors at multiple levels. At …
Validation of cross-cultural child mental health and psychosocial research instruments
BACKGROUND: The lack of culturally adapted and validated instruments for child mental health and psychosocial support in low and middle-income countries is a barrier to assessing prevalence of mental health problems, evaluating interventions, and determining program cost-effectiveness. Alternative procedures are needed to validate instruments in these settings. METHODS: Six criteria are proposed to evaluate cross-cultural validity of child mental…
Explanatory Models and Mental Health Treatment
Reintegration of child soldiers in Burundi
The present study demonstrates promising reintegration trajectories of former child soldiers after participating in a support program
Idioms of distress, ethnopsychology, and the clinical encounter in Haiti's Central Plateau
Applying Nepali Ethnopsychology to Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Mental Illness and Prevention of Suicide Among Bhutanese Refugees
Addressing mental health needs of 100,000 ethnic Nepali Bhutanese refugees relocated from Nepal is a new challenge for mental health clinicians in the receiving countries. A limitation of current services is the lack of knowledge about cultural understandings of mental health. Ethnopsychology is the study of emotions, suffering, the self, and social relationships from a cultural perspective. Nepali ethnopsychology can be used to develop and adapt…
Noninfectious Disease Among the Bhutanese Refugee Population at a United States Urban Clinic
Medical Diplomacy and Global Mental Health
Suicide in rural Haiti
Strategies for assessing mental health in Haiti
The lack of culturally appropriate mental health assessment instruments is a major barrier to screening and evaluating efficacy of interventions. Simple translation of questionnaires produces misleading and inaccurate conclusions. Multiple alternate approaches have been proposed, and this study compared two approaches tested in rural Haiti. First, an established transcultural translation process was used to develop Haitian Kreyòl versions of the …
Cultural concepts of distress and psychiatric disorders
BACKGROUND: Burgeoning global mental health endeavors have renewed debates about cultural applicability of psychiatric categories. This study's goal is to review strengths and limitations of literature comparing psychiatric categories with cultural concepts of distress (CCD) such as cultural syndromes, culture-bound syndromes, and idioms of distress. METHODS: The Systematic Assessment of Quality in Observational Research (SAQOR) was adapted based…
Perceived discrimination, humiliation, and mental health
Both qualitative and quantitative methods suggest that perceived discrimination and the experience of humiliation contribute to Haitian migrant mental ill-health and limit access to health care. Future research should evaluate these associations and identify intervention pathways for both improved treatment access and reduction of discrimination-related health risk factors
Medicine (92 works) · Psychology (91 works) · Psychiatry (89 works) · Mental health (79 works) · Mental Health Treatment and Access (66 works) · Clinical Psychology (44 works) · Political science (43 works) · Psychological intervention (43 works) · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development (38 works) · Nursing (38 works)