Introduction: Self-Help Plus (SH +) is a group-based psychological intervention developed by the World Health Organization for managing stress. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of SH+ in preventing mental disorders in refugees and asylum seekers in Western Europe. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial in 5 European countries. Refugees and asylum seekers with psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire score > 3), but without a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) or ICD/10 diagnosis of mental disorder, as assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), were randomized to SH + or enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU). The primary outcome was the frequency of mental disorders with the MINI at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included the frequency of mental disorders at postintervention, self-identified problems, psychological symptoms, and other outcomes. Results: Four hundred fifty-nine individuals were randomly assigned to SH + or ETAU. For the primary outcome, we found no difference in the frequency of mental disorders at 6 months (Cramer V = 0.007, p = 0.90, RR = 0.96; 95% CI 0.52,1.78), while the difference significantly favored SH + at after the intervention (secondary outcome, measured within 2 weeks from the last session; Cramer V = 0.13, p = 0.01, RR = 0.50; 95% CI 0.29,0.87). Conclusions: This is the first randomized indicated prevention study with the aim of preventing the onset of mental disorders in asylum seekers and refugees in Western Europe. As a prevention effect of SH + was not observed at 6 months, but rather after the intervention only, modalities to maintain its beneficial effect in the long term need to be identified.
The home environment and Asian immigrant children’s early literacy skills
Objective.The current study examines how aspects of the home literacy environment were related to Asian immigrant children’s early literacy skills.Design.One hundred and thirty-nine Asian immigrant