Acceptability of a Randomized Trial of Anti-depressant Medication or Interpersonal Therapy for Treatment of Perinatal Depression in Women with HIV.

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects nearly 20% of postpartum women in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where HIV prevalence is high. Depression is associated with worse HIV outcomes in non-pregnant adults and mental health disorders may worsen HIV outcomes for postpartum women and their infants. PPD is effectively treated with psychosocial or pharmacologic interventions; however, few studies have evaluated the acceptability of treatment modalities in SSA.

Implementing internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (moodgym) for African students with symptoms of low mood during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative feasibilty study.

Background: Online therapies have been shown to be effective in improving students' mental health. They are cost-effective and therefore have particular advantages in low-income countries like Zambia where mental health resources are limited. This study aimed to explore the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the feasibility of implementing an Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) intervention ('moodgym') to improve resilience in vulnerable Zambian students.

Factors influencing COVID-19 health protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood.

Background: Health protective behaviours are crucial in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, particularly in university students who typically live and study in large groups. Depression and anxiety are common in students and can impact young people's motivations to follow health advice. The study aims to assess the relationship between mental health and COVID-19 health-protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood.

Interpersonal therapy versus antidepressant medication for treatment of postpartum depression and anxiety among women with HIV in Zambia: a randomized feasibility trial.

Introduction: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent and debilitating disease that may affect medication adherence and thus maternal health and vertical transmission among women with HIV. We assessed the feasibility of a trial of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) versus antidepressant medication (ADM) to treat PPD and/or anxiety among postpartum women with HIV in Lusaka, Zambia.

Methods: Between 29 October 2019 and 8 September 2020, we pre-screened women 6-8 weeks after delivery with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and diagnosed PPD or anxiety with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview.