Policy Research Working Paper 10849 examines the impact of group-based interpersonal therapy on mental health and human capital accumulation among adolescent girls in Uganda. This study utilized a cluster-randomized trial design to evaluate whether a lay provider-led group-based interpersonal therapy could effectively be scaled up using modest resources in a low-income country setting. The intervention also tested the potential benefits of offering a lump-sum cash transfer at the end of therapy.
Key findings include:
- Group-based interpersonal therapy significantly increased the share of adolescents with minimal depression by 20-30% 12 months after therapy initiation.
- However, these effects diminished by the 24-month follow-up, indicating a lack of sustained impact.
- Short-term effects on human capital accumulation were not maintained at the 24-month mark.
- Contrary to expectations, the provision of cash transfers to therapy beneficiaries had a large, negative, and persistent impact on mental health, lasting two years after baseline.
The study suggests that while group-based interpersonal therapy may offer some immediate benefits for adolescent mental health, its effectiveness wanes over time. Moreover, the provision of cash transfers might exacerbate mental health issues, possibly due to financial pressures faced by beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper highlights the importance of considering the broader context and potential unintended consequences when implementing mental health interventions in low-income settings.
