Feasibility of Mini Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT-G Mini) for Kenyan Adolescents

Background: Group interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-G) has universal elements that appeal to non-Western cultural contexts, while offering flexibility for contextual adaptations, making it an intervention of choice for adolescent populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We anticipate that a shorter four-session version, which we are calling IPT-G Mini, offered to adolescents and young people during the COVID-19 pandemic, would effectively mitigate psychological distress. Objective: The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of a short version of IPT-G among adolescents screened for depression and anxiety. Methods: IPT-G Mini was offered by lay health workers to 40 adolescents aged 10-19 years in Nairobi, Kenya, experiencing depressive, stress, and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic during June-September 2021. Primary outcomes were a reduction in depression and psychological distress on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression, and Kessler Psychological Distress (K10) scales. Findings: The intervention was effective, with a significant reduction in psychological distress (K10) and depression (PHQ-9) scores at the end of the intervention (with p < 0.05), Cohen's d = 0.49 (95% C.I. = 0.04-0.94) and d = 0.51 (95% C.I. = 0.06-0.96), respectively. Younger participants (10-14 years) had better outcomes than older ones on K10 and PHQ-9 assessments. Conclusions: IPT-G Mini must be tested in a more controlled setting with a larger and more diverse sample. It does appear to reduce distress and depressive symptoms, and further evaluation may be needed to refine the adapted version. Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, the timely and effective intervention focused on interpersonal issues proved beneficial to participants. Addressing various problem areas helped provide perspective and support in dealing with multiple losses and socioeconomic hardships experienced by our young participants.