Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of a culturally adapted nonspecialist delivery Problem-Solving Therapy
Friendship Bench Intervention for perinatal psychological distress in Sierra Leone
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7149006 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Abdulai Jawo Bah (0000-0002-3334-7882, Queen Margaret University, corresponding author), Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Haja Wurie (0000-0002-2500-3393, University of Sierra Leone), Mohamed Samai (0000-0002-1427-9482, University of Sierra Leone), Rebecca Horn (0000-0002-9869-544X, Queen Margaret University), Alastair Ager (0000-0002-9474-3563, Queen Margaret University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Pages | e16-e16 |
| Publication date | 2025-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Cambridge Prisms Global Mental Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2054-4251 • E-ISSN: 2054-4251 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/gmh.2025.6 |
| PMID | 40028388 |
| OpenAlex | W4407104030 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 57 |
In low- and middle-income countries like Sierra Leone, there is a significant gap in the treatment of perinatal mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression and somatization. This study explored the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of a culturally adapted Problem-Solving Therapy – Friendship Bench Intervention (PST-FBI) delivered by nonspecialists, mother-to-mother support groups (MMSGs), to perinatal women experiencing psychological distress. MMSGs provide 4 weeks of home-based, individual PST-FBI, followed by a peer-led group session called col at sacul (circle of serenity). The intervention targeted peri-urban pregnant women and new mothers screened for psychological distress. This was a two-armed, pre–post, waitlist-controlled study that employed the Sierra Leone Perinatal Psychological Distress Scale (SLPPDS) to screen and measure their outcomes. Feasibility and acceptability were examined through in-depth interviews using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, analyzed thematically, while preliminary effectiveness was evaluated with chi-squared analysis for categorical and t -test for continuous variables. Twenty of the 25 women completed all four PST-FBI sessions delivered by five MMSGs. The individual PST and the peer-led session were viewed as beneficial for problem-sharing and skill building. The SLPPDS scores significantly dropped by 58.9% (17.1–8.4) in the intervention group, while the control group showed a 31.6% (18.0–12.3) decrease. The intervention’s effect size was d = 0.40 ( p col at sacul session, proved feasible, acceptable and with preliminary effectiveness in improving the mental health of peri-urban pregnant women and new mothers in Sierra Leone. Further randomized-controlled trials are recommended before nationwide implementation
Distress · Friendship · Mental health · Psychiatry · Psychological distress · Psychotherapist · Sierra leone · Sociology · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Family and Disability Support Research · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology
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| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |