Psychological Interventions Targeting Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents Living in War or Conflict Affected Zones: A Scoping Review.

purpose of reviewThis review maps psychological and psychosocial interventions aimed at reducing depressive symptoms in children and adolescents who continue to live within war- or armed conflict–affected zones. We sought to identify which approaches are specifically designed for depressive symptoms, how they are delivered in humanitarian contexts, and where robust evidence is still lacking. RECENT

findingsTwenty-one studies published between 2005 and 2025 were identified across diverse settings including Palestine, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Nepal, and Northern Uganda. Most interventions were group-based and school-delivered. Studies without control conditions generally reported reductions in depressive symptoms, whereas findings from randomized or controlled trials were mixed, with few interventions demonstrating clear superiority over comparison conditions. A small number of interventions grounded in depression-specific theoretical frameworks, such as interpersonal psychotherapy or memory-focused approaches, reported reductions in depressive symptoms; however, evidence remains limited and heterogeneous. Overall, the findings highlight the need for more targeted, theoretically informed interventions and for rigorous study designs to clarify their effectiveness and inform practice and policy for war-affected children and adolescents.