RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05927987

Feasibility and Acceptability of Problem Management Plus (PM+) for Prisoners in the Netherlands - a Pilot RCT

Feasibility and Acceptability of Problem Management Plus (PM+) for Prisoners in the Netherlands - a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

Sponsor

VU University of Amsterdam

Enrollment

60 participants

Start Date

Jun 13, 2024

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Psychological Distress Depressive Disorder Anxiety Disorders

Summary

The goal of this pilot randomised controlled trial is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the - specifically to the prison context adapted - World Health Organization's Problem Management Plus (PM+) intervention for individuals detained in Dutch remand prisons. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * To what extent is the contextually adapted PM+ intervention feasible and acceptable for individuals detained in Dutch remand prisons? * To what extent are there preliminary indications of pre to post-effects of the PM+ intervention on, for example, anxiety and depression symptoms? Researchers will compare two groups to answer these questions. Participants will either receive the PM+ intervention and Care-as-Usual or only Care-as-Usual.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Inclusion Criteria5

years old or above;
Imprisoned in a Dutch prison;
Held on remand;
Dutch-speaking;
Elevated levels of psychological distress (K10 \>15);

Exclusion Criteria8

Enclosed in a penitentiary psychiatric centre;
Presents a potential security risk to the research team (PM+ helper and/or research team)
Acute medical condition;
Imminent suicide risk or expressed acute needs/protection risks (e.g., someone who expresses that they are at acute risk of being assaulted or killed);
Severe mental disorder (psychotic disorders, substance dependence) ;
Severe cognitive impairment (e.g., severe intellectual disability or dementia);
Currently enrolled in a specialised psychological treatment program (e.g., EMDR, CBT);
Less than two months on a stable dose of psychotropic medication (if applicable).

Interventions

BEHAVIORALProblem Management Plus (PM+)

Problem Management Plus (PM+) is a brief, psychological intervention program based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques that are empirically supported and formally recommended by the WHO (Dua et al., 2011; Tol et al., 2013). The full protocol was developed by the WHO and the University of New South Wales, Australia. The manual involves the following empirically supported elements: problem-solving, stress management, behavioural activation, and accessing social support. PM+ has three core features. It is brief (five sessions given in five weeks), delivered by paraprofessionals (PM+ helpers) and transdiagnostic. The PM+ helpers will be supervised by mental health care specialists.