Assessing the efficacy of a brief universal family skills programme on child behaviour and family functioning in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan: protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial of the Strong Families programme.

PURPOSE: The global burden of mental health difficulties among children underscores the importance of early prevention. This study aims to assess the efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of the Strong Families programme in enhancing child behaviour and family functioning in low-resource settings in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a two-arm, multisite feasibility randomised controlled trial with an embedded process evaluation in three districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, namely Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu. 90 families living in these challenged settings, comprising a female primary caregiver aged 18 or above, and at least one child aged 8-15 years, will participate. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive the Strong Families programme or to the waitlist group. Strong Families is a 7-hour family skills group intervention programme attended by children and their primary caregivers over 3 weeks. The waitlist group will be offered the intervention after their outcome assessment. Three raters will conduct blind assessments at baseline, 2 and 6 weeks postintervention. The primary outcome measures include the feasibility of Strong Families, as determined by families' recruitment and attendance rates, and programme completeness (mean number of sessions attended, attrition rates). The secondary outcomes include assessment of child behaviour, parenting practices, parental adjustment and child resilience. Purposefully selected participants, including up to five caregivers from each site, researchers and facilitators delivering the intervention, will be interviewed. Descriptive statistics will be used to analyse primary and secondary outcomes. The process evaluation will be conducted in terms of programme context, reach, fidelity, dose delivered and received, implementation, and recruitment. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the UNODC Drug Prevention and Health Branch in the Headquarters office of Vienna and the National Bioethics Committee of Pakistan. Findings will be disseminated through publication in reputable journals, newsletters and presentations at conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05933850.

Effectiveness of Learning through Play Plus (LTP Plus) Parenting Intervention on Behaviours of Young Children of Depressed Mothers: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Evidence has shown that parenting intervention programmes improve parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices, which helps in promoting child development. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of parenting intervention in improving child behaviours. This is a secondary analysis of data from a cluster-randomised controlled trial with depressed mothers aged 18-44 years with a child aged 0 to 36 months. This paper reports findings from the dataset of participants with a child aged between 24 and 36 months. Villages (n = 120) were randomised into either of two arms: learning through play plus (LTP Plus) or treatment as usual (TAU). LTP Plus is a 10-session, group parenting intervention integrated with cognitive behaviour therapy, delivered over 3 months. This secondary analysis reports findings on the Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory (ECBI) and the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME). Findings show a significant improvement in child behaviour (ECBI) scores (p < 0.011) and HOME scores (p < 0.001) in the intervention group compared to TAU at 3-month follow-up. In a low-resource setting, low-cost group parenting intervention delivered by community health workers has the potential to improve child behaviours and quality of the home environment. Parenting interventions aimed at improving child behavioural problems can have significant implications for the child, family, and broader societal outcomes. Addressing behavioural problems in early years, parenting interventions can potentially reduce long-term consequences and costs associated with untreated child behavioural issues.

Integrated Moving on After Breast Cancer and Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavior Therapy intervention for depression and anxiety among Pakistani women with breast cancer: Protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer is associated with significant distress that has huge impact on survivors' quality of life. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of an integrated intervention "Moving on After Breast Cancer (ABC) Plus culturally adapted Cognitive Behavior Therapy" (Moving on ABC Plus). Method: This is a randomized controlled trial that aims to recruit 354 breast cancer survivors from the inpatient and outpatient oncology departments in public and private hospitals in Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi in Pakistan. Patients scoring 10 or above on either the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and/or the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) will be recruited. Baseline assessments will include Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast; EuroQol-5D; Multidimensional Scale for Perceived Social Support; Intrusive Thoughts Scale; and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Participants randomized into intervention arm, Moving on ABC Plus, will receive 12 individual therapy sessions over 4 months. Follow-up will be completed at 4- and 6-month post-randomization, using all baseline instruments along with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8). We will also explore the participants', their family members', and the therapists' experiences of the trial and intervention. Results: We will be assessing the effectiveness of intervention in reducing depression and anxiety in breast cancer survivors as a primary outcome of the trial. The secondary outcomes will include effectiveness of intervention in terms of reduction in intrusive thoughts and improvement in health-related quality of life, self-esteem, and perceived social support. Conclusion: The results of the study will inform the design of a future larger randomized control trial with long-term follow-up.

A culturally adapted manual-assisted problem-solving intervention (CMAP) for adults with a history of self-harm: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Self-harm is an important predictor of a suicide death. Culturally appropriate strategies for the prevention of self-harm and suicide are needed but the evidence is very limited from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a culturally adapted manual-assisted problem-solving intervention (CMAP) for patients presenting after self-harm. METHODS: This was a rater-blind, multicenter randomised controlled trial. The study sites were all participating emergency departments, medical wards of general hospitals and primary care centres in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Quetta, Pakistan. Patients presenting after a self-harm episode (n = 901) to participating recruitment sites were assessed and randomised (1:1) to one of the two arms; CMAP with enhanced treatment as usual (E-TAU) or E-TAU. The intervention (CMAP) is a manual-assisted, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)-informed problem-focused therapy, comprising six one-to-one sessions delivered over three months. Repetition of self-harm at 12-month post-randomisation was the primary outcome and secondary outcomes included suicidal ideation, hopelessness, depression, health-related quality of life (QoL), coping resources, and level of satisfaction with service received, assessed at baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month post-randomisation. The trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT02742922 (April 2016). RESULTS: We screened 3786 patients for eligibility and 901 eligible, consented patients were randomly assigned to the CMAP plus E-TAU arm (n = 440) and E-TAU arm (N = 461). The number of self-harm repetitions for CMAP plus E-TAU was lower (n = 17) compared to the E-TAU arm (n = 23) at 12-month post-randomisation, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.407). There was a statistically and clinically significant reduction in other outcomes including suicidal ideation (- 3.6 (- 4.9, - 2.4)), depression (- 7.1 (- 8.7, - 5.4)), hopelessness (- 2.6 (- 3.4, - 1.8), and improvement in health-related QoL and coping resources after completion of the intervention in the CMAP plus E-TAU arm compared to the E-TAU arm. The effect was sustained at 12-month follow-up for all the outcomes except for suicidal ideation and hopelessness. On suicidal ideation and hopelessness, participants in the intervention arm scored lower compared to the E-TAU arm but the difference was not statistically significant, though the participants in both arms were in low-risk category at 12-month follow-up. The improvement in both arms is explained by the established role of enhanced care in suicide prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal ideation is considered an important target for the prevention of suicide, therefore, CMAP intervention should be considered for inclusion in the self-harm and suicide prevention guidelines. Given the improvement in the E-TAU arm, the potential use of brief interventions such as regular contact requires further exploration.

Youth Culturally adapted Manual Assisted Problem Solving Training (YCMAP) in Pakistani adolescent with a history of self-harm: protocol for multicentre clinical and cost-effectiveness randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is a global health concern. Sociocultural factors have an impact on self-harm and suicide rates. In Pakistan, both self-harm and suicide are considered as criminal offence's and are condemned on both religious and social grounds. The proposed intervention 'Youth Culturally Adapted Manual Assisted Problem Solving Training (YCMAP)' is based on principles of problem-solving and cognitive-behavioural therapy. YCMAP is a brief, culturally relevant, scalable intervention that can be implemented in routine clinical practice if found to be effective. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: A multicentre rater blind randomised controlled trial to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of YCMAP including a sample of 652 participants, aged 12-18 years, presenting to general physicians/clinicians, emergency room after self harm or self referrals. We will test the effectiveness of 8-10 individual sessions of YCMAP delivered over 3 months compared with treatment as usual. Primary outcome measure is repetition of self-harm at 12 months. The seconday outcomes include reduction in suicidal ideation, hopelessness and distress and improvement in health related quality of life. Assessments will be completed at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months postrandomisation. The nested qualitative component will explore perceptions about management of self-harm and suicide prevention among adolescents and investigate participants' experiences with YCMAP. The study will be guided by the theory of change approach to ensure that the whole trial is centred around needs of the end beneficiaries as key stakeholders in the process. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of University of Manchester, the National Bioethics Committee in Pakistan. The findings of this study will be disseminated through community workshops, social media, conference presentations and peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04131179.

An integrated parenting intervention for maternal depression and child development in a low-resource setting: Cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Rates of depression among Pakistani mothers are high, leading to poor developmental outcomes in their children. This study tested the effectiveness of a manualized integrated parenting program; Learning through Play Plus (LTP+) for maternal depression in Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS: A cluster randomized control trial conducted from January 2014 to December 2015 across 120 villages in Karachi. A total of 774 depressed mothers aged 18-44 years with children aged 0-30 months old, were included. Villages were randomized to receive LTP+ added to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Primary outcomes were severity of maternal depression at 3 and 6 months measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and child socio-emotional development at 6 months measured by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Secondary outcomes included maternal anxiety, quality of life, social support, parenting competence, and knowledge about child development. RESULTS: Mothers in the LTP+ group reported significantly lower depression scores compared to those in the TAU group (6.6 vs. 13.8, effect size [ES]: -7.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -8.2, -6.1) at 3 and 6 months (7.2 vs. 12.00; ES: -4.6; 95% CI: -5.9, -3.4). Child socio-emotional development at 6 months was significantly better in the LTP+ group on all domains of the ASQ. There were also statistically significant improvements on all secondary outcomes at 3- and 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: In low-resource settings like Pakistan, low-cost integrated parenting interventions delivered by lay health workers can provide effective treatment for depressed mothers, leading to improvements in child development.

The Role of Orgasmic Difficulty in Attributing Cause for Positive and Negative Sexual Outcomes in Women: The Importance of Cross-Cultural Analyses.

Studies investigating women's attributions for positive and negative sexual experiences have been slow to adopt a cross-cultural perspective, resulting in a perspective defined by Western experiences. This cross-cultural analysis examined such attribution processes in 88 Pakistani and 187 USA women, and identified differences related to orgasmic difficulty and country-of-origin. Pakistani and USA women differed on both self-blame and relationship blame related to negative sexual outcomes, an effect intensified in Pakistani women who reported orgasmic difficulty during partnered sex. Differences are interpreted within a cultural context and underscore the importance of addressing women's sexual experiences in a more global context.

Attribution patterns related to positive and negative sexual experiences in married Pakistani women with differing levels of orgasmic difficulty.

Studies using Western samples have found that people with sexual problems attribute negative sexual experiences more to themselves whereas those without sexual problems attribute negative sexual experiences more to external factors such as the particular situation or even the partner. While attribution patterns vary across sex, age, dysfunction status, and generations, to date no studies have investigated how they might vary across cultures. We compared attribution patterns of (presumed) heterosexual/cisgender Pakistani women with varying levels of orgasmic difficulty (OD) on hypothetical scenarios presenting either positive or negative partnered sexual outcomes, with attributions to four possible targets: self, husband, situation, and relationship. Similar to previous research using Western samples, Pakistani women with greater OD were more likely than non-OD counterparts to blame themselves and their partners for negative sexual experiences. In contrast with prior research, for Pakistani women, attributions were distributed widely across all targets, including relationship factors (e.g., compatibility and communication). Specifically, Pakistani women tied their explanations for both positive and negative sexual outcomes more strongly to assessment of their relationship with their husband. The way in which women with sexual difficulties in non-Western cultures interpret their sexual experiences suggests the need for remediation strategies sensitive to socio-sexual scripts of the culture.

Cross-Cultural Analysis of Sexual Response and Relationship Satisfaction in Women With and Without Orgasmic Difficulty During Partnered Sex.

Objective To investigate how orgasmic difficulty may impact women's sexual/relationship quality depending upon their cultural origin. Method: We used a cross-sectional, multinational survey designed to assess orgasmic difficulty during partnered sex and other sexual/relationship factors in 88 Pakistani and 188 U.S. women. Results: Pakistani women reported less orgasmic difficulty than U.S. women, but those Pakistani women having orgasmic difficulty reported lower relationship satisfaction, less interest in sex, and greater difficulty becoming sexually aroused compared to U.S. respondents with orgasmic difficulty. Conclusions: The presence of orgasmic difficulty affected sexual and relationship factors more in Pakistani women than U.S. women.

A roadmap to develop dementia research capacity and capability in Pakistan: A model for low- and middle-income countries.

OBJECTIVE: To produce a strategic roadmap for supporting the development of dementia research in Pakistan. BACKGROUND: While global research strategies for dementia research already exist, none is tailored to the specific needs and challenges of low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) like Pakistan. METHODS: We undertook an iterative consensus process with lay and professional experts to develop a Theory of Change-based strategy for dementia research in Pakistan. This included Expert Reference Groups (ERGs), strategic planning techniques, a "research question" priority survey, and consultations with Key Opinion Leaders. RESULTS: We agreed on ten principles to guide dementia research in Pakistan, emphasizing pragmatic, resource sparing, real-world approaches to support people with dementia, both locally and internationally. Goals included capacity/capability building. Priority research topics included raising awareness and understanding of dementia, and improving quality of life. CONCLUSION: This roadmap may be a model for other LMIC health ecosystems with emerging dementia research cultures.

Depression among hospitalized and non-hospitalized gonadal cancer patients in tertiary care public hospitals in Karachi.

The study aimed at determining the differences in the levels of depression between hospitalized and non-hospitalized Gonadal cancer patients in tertiary care public hospitals in Karachi. The present study was conducted at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Civil Hospital, Karachi, from July to October 2009. One hundred adult patients diagnosed with Gonadal cancer volunteered for the study. Cases with any other co-morbidity were excluded. Urdu version of Siddiqui Shah Depression Scale (SSDS) was administered. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used for data collection. The ages of participants in the sample ranged from 20 to 27 years with the mean age of 23.85 years. The participants belonged to the lower and middle classes. Out of the 30 hospitalized gonadal cancer patients 40% were moderately depressed and 60% were severely depressed, whereas out of 70 non-hospitalized gonadal cancer patients 74.3% were mildly depressed, 24.3% were moderately depressed and only 1.4% were severely depressed, which clearly indicated that the depression level of hospitalized gonadal cancer patients was high as compared to non-hospitalized gonadal cancer patients.