Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39514860›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2024

Scalable Technology for Adolescents and Youth to Reduce Stress in the Treatment of Common Mental Disorders in Jordan: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aemal Akhtar, Anne Marijn de Graaff, Rand Habashneh, Dharani Keyan, Adnan Abualhaija, Sarah Fanatseh, Muhannad Faroun, Ibrahim Said Aqel, Latefa Dardas, Chiara Servili and 3 more

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Aemal AkhtarDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Insurance Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-8510-3636
Anne Marijn de GraaffDepartment of Mental Health Brain health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-6686-4432
Rand HabashnehInstitute for Family Health, King Hussein Foundation, Amman, Jordan.ORCID 0009-0008-9629-8548
Dharani KeyanSchool of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-9406-7542
Adnan AbualhaijaInstitute for Family Health, King Hussein Foundation, Amman, Jordan.ORCID 0009-0009-8502-6173
Sarah FanatsehInstitute for Family Health, King Hussein Foundation, Amman, Jordan.ORCID 0009-0002-2877-0640
Muhannad FarounInstitute for Family Health, King Hussein Foundation, Amman, Jordan.ORCID 0009-0001-3388-4872
Ibrahim Said AqelInstitute for Family Health, King Hussein Foundation, Amman, Jordan.ORCID 0000-0002-7558-7059
Latefa DardasCommunity Health Nursing Department, School of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.ORCID 0000-0001-5437-4778
Chiara ServiliDepartment of Mental Health Brain health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-1885-822X
Mark van OmmerenDepartment of Mental Health Brain health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-5460-8842
Richard BryantSchool of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-9607-819X
Kenneth CarswellDepartment of Mental Health Brain health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-5344-5802

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundYoung people in low- and middle-income countries encounter significant barriers to accessing mental health support due to various factors, including a substantial treatment gap and limited health care budgets allocated to mental health. Using innovative strategies, such as scalable digital self-help psychological interventions, offers a potential solution for improving access to mental health support. However, digital mental health interventions come with their own set of challenges, including issues related to low user engagement. Chatbots, with their interactive and engaging nature, may present a promising avenue for the delivery of these interventions.

objectiveThis study aims to explore the effectiveness of a newly developed World Health Organization (WHO) digital mental health intervention, titled Scalable Technology for Adolescents and Youth to Reduce Stress (STARS).

methodsA single-blind, 2-arm randomized controlled trial will be conducted nationally across Jordan. Participants will include 344 young adults, aged 18-21 years, currently residing in Jordan. Inclusion criteria are heightened levels of psychological distress as determined through the 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (≥20). Assessment measures will be conducted at baseline, 1-week post intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Following baseline assessments, eligible participants will be randomized to receive STARS or enhanced usual care. The primary outcomes are the reduction of symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hopkins Symptom Checklist, 25 subscales) at 3-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include general functioning (WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0), well-being (WHO-5 Well-Being Index), personal problems (Psychological Outcomes Profile), and agency (State Hope Scale subscale).

resultsThe study was funded in January 2020 by the Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises Programme (Elhra) and recruitment for the trial started on July 16, 2023. As of November 15, 2023, we randomized 228 participants.

conclusionsThis trial intends to contribute to the growing digital mental health evidence base by exploring technological solutions to address global public health challenges. Given the widespread use of technology globally, even in resource-constrained settings, and the high adoption rates among adolescents and young individuals, digital initiatives such as STARS present promising opportunities for the future of mental health care in low- and middle-income countries.

trial registrationISRCTN Registry ISRCTN10152961; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN10152961. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/54585.

Indexed as

Mental DisordersStress, PsychologicalAdolescentFemaleHumansJordanMaleRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSingle-Blind MethodYoung Adultaccessanxietybarrierschatbotsconversational agentsdepressiondigital self-helpdisabilityeffectivenessJordanlow- and middle-income countriesmental disordersmental healthmHealthminimally guided digital interventionpsychological distresspsychosocial interventionrandomized controlled trialScalable Technology for Adolescents and Youth to Reduce Stressyouths

Identifiers

PMID39514860
PMCPMC11584552

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.