Treating Common Mental Disorders in Women in Mozambique by Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in Couples

Launched by NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE · Feb 1, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how to help women in Mozambique who are experiencing mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and PTSD, especially when these problems are related to intimate partner violence (IPV). The goal is to develop treatments that can improve mental health by addressing issues within couples, particularly when both partners are willing to work on their relationship. The researchers aim to create an effective program that not only helps the women but also benefits their partners and any children involved, ultimately promoting healthier family dynamics.

To participate, couples must meet certain criteria: both partners should be at least 18 years old and have been together for at least three months. The woman must show signs of a common mental disorder, and both partners should agree that their relationship issues are contributing to her mental health symptoms. However, couples experiencing severe violence or who have a history of severe mental health issues will not be eligible. If selected, participants can expect to engage in treatments designed to improve their relationship and mental well-being. This trial is not yet recruiting participants, so those interested should keep an eye out for updates.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Both partners aged ≥18;
• • both partners identify each other as one of (in case of polygamous marriage) their primary sexual partners of the opposite sex;
• • partnered for at least 3 months;
• • woman screens positive for a CMD using the Mental Wellness Tool developed and validated by our PRIDE team in Mozambique;
• • couples have mild to moderate forms of situational IPV (Ongoing Abuse Scale score = 1 or above). See below exclusion criteria for how severity will be determined.;
• • both partners desire to maintain the relationship;
• • woman identifies marital dispute as the main interpersonal problem area causing CMD symptoms.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Any indicators of severe IPV. The determination of severity will be assessed using items (presence or absence) on the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS). If any couple member answers yes to both of the following items: "I punched or hit my partner with something that could hurt" and "I kicked my partner," couples will be excluded. Couple members who answer yes to any of the following items: "I used a knife or gun on my partner," "I choked my partner," "I slammed my partner against a wall," "I beat up my partner," "I burned or scalded my partner on purpose," will be excluded. Finally, if any couple member reports that a violent behavior was repeated at least six times in a year by their partner or themselves, violence will be considered severe.;
• • (2) discrepancy (\>2) in reporting of frequency of violence on CTS in overall average scores of the partners or for any single behavior in the scale. For example, if the female partner reports that her male partner slapped her three times, but the male partner reports that he never slapped his female partner, the couple will be excluded for discrepant reporting for the act of slapping.;
• • history of violent legal offences;
• • male partner has severe CMD symptoms (PHQ-9 score of 20 or above; GAD-7 score of 15 or above; and PCL-C score of 45 or above); and either partner demonstrates/reports
• • serious mental illness,
• • cognitive impairment,
• • history of mania (Psychosis Screening Questionnaire score = 1),
• • hazardous alcohol use (AUDIT score of 8 or above),
• • current suicidality,
• • not speaking Portuguese,
• • feeling unsafe to participate,
• • inability to complete the study.