Using lay health workers to identify and manage common mental disorders using problem solving therapy through a friendship bench in a resource poor setting in Zimbabwe

Locally adapted problem-solving therapy for depression and common mental disorders in primary care in Zimbabwe delivered through lay workers and a Friendship Bench: a pilot study

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN25476759

Enrollment

973

Registered

2011-01-10

Start date

2007-01-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2021-01-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Depression and common mental disorders Mental and Behavioural Disorders Depression

Interventions

All individuals attending a local clinic who were identified by the local nursing staff as needing psychological care were referred to the 'Friendship Bench', a problem solving therapy based intervent

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Residents of Mbare 2. Aged 16 years and over, either sex 3. Gave written informed consent. Those who were unable to give informed consent but needed mental health services were referred to the clinical psychologist or psychiatrist and their data was not included in the analysis.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Client requires acute medical attention such that they cannot participate in screening 2. Severe depression with risk features as diagnosed by primary care nurse

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ) score after six sessions of problem solving therapy delivered through the friendship bench.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
No secondary outcome measures	—

Countries

Zimbabwe

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 28, 2026