Acceptability of a resource-oriented approach (DIALOG+) among patients with chronic physical illnesses in primary health care-Uganda, a qualitative study.

Background: Chronic physical illnesses are often associated with significant psychological distress and chronic mental illnesses are often co-morbid with physical illnesses. Efforts to integrate mental health into primary health care in Uganda are underway. However, there are enormous logistical challenges.

Psychotic disorders in HIV-positive versus HIV-negative patients: comparative study of clinical characteristics.

Background: Clinical characteristics of psychosis in HIV infection have been described, but there have been limited comparative studies in HIV-endemic low-resource regions.

Aim: To compare clinical characteristics of psychosis in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients at the main psychiatric referral units in Uganda.

Method: Patients with psychosis were consecutively recruited and completed a standardised demographic questionnaire and psychiatric and laboratory assessments including an HIV test.

"I was also trying to protect myself and save my life," experiences of people living with severe mental illness and their caregivers regarding COVID-19 response in Uganda.

Introduction: People with severe mental illness (SMI) are highly vulnerable and more affected by epidemics than the general population. They encounter limited access to care, miss out on infection prevention measures and are more prone to relapses.

Objectives: This study explored the experiences of individuals with SMI and their caregivers in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perceived feasibility, acceptability and impact of the family involvement intervention for severe mental illness: a qualitative study in Masaka - Uganda.

Background: The burden of severe mental illness is high in low-resource settings like Uganda. But most affected people are not treated due to inadequacy of sectoral funding and trained mental health professionals. Medication has hitherto been the main method of treatment for severe mental illness worldwide.

Family Psycho-Social Involvement Intervention for severe mental illness in Uganda.

Background: Treatment rates for severe mental illness (SMI) are low in low- and middle-income countries because of limited resources. Enlisting family support could be effective and low cost in improving patient outcomes.

Aim: The article assess the feasibility, acceptability and estimates of efficacy of Family Psychosocial Involvement Intervention (FAPII) for patients with SMI.

Feasibility and outcomes of using DIALOG+ in primary care to improve quality of life and mental distress of patients with long-term physical conditions: an exploratory non-controlled study in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia and Uganda.

Introduction: The management of long-term physical conditions is a challenge worldwide, absorbing a majority resources despite the importance of acute care. The management of these conditions is done largely in primary care and so interventions to improve primary care could have an enormous impact. However, very little data exist on how to do this.

Feasibility of screening for cognitive impairment among older persons and referral by community health workers in Wakiso district, Uganda.

Background: In Uganda, cognitive impairment in older persons aged ≥ 60 years is often undiagnosed due to inadequate appreciation of the condition compounded with limitations of trained human resource able to conduct appropriate cognitive evaluations. Use of Community Health Workers (CHWs) especially in hard-to-reach communities can be an important link for older persons to the health facilities where they can receive adequate evaluations and interventions for cognitive challenges. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of screening for cognitive impairment among older persons and referral by CHWs in Wakiso district, Uganda.

The effect of group support psychotherapy on adherence to anti-retroviral therapy and viral suppression among HIV positive young people: Study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated an association between psychological risk factors and HIV disease progression. However, there is limited information on the use of psychological interventions to improve HIV treatment outcomes in young people living with HIV.

Objective: This pilot trial aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of group support psychotherapy in improving adherence to anti-retroviral therapy and viral suppression in young people living with HIV in Uganda.

Impact of COVID-19 on the well-being of children with epilepsy including nodding syndrome in Uganda: A qualitative study.

Objective: To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions on the access and use of health services by children with epilepsy including nodding syndrome in Uganda.

Methods: Four focus group discussions (FGD) with parents/caregivers of children with epilepsy and five in-depth interviews with key informants were conducted between April and May 2021 at Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital and Kitgum General Hospital.

Results: COVID-19-related restrictions, including the halting of non-essential services and activities, and suspension of public transport, created several challenges not only for children with epilepsy and their parents/caregivers but also for their healthcare providers.

Long-Term Effect of Group Support Psychotherapy on Depression and HIV Treatment Outcomes: Secondary Analysis of a Cluster Randomized Trial in Uganda.

Objective: We aimed to determine the effect of group support psychotherapy (GSP) compared with group HIV education (GHE) on depression and HIV treatment outcomes 24 months after treatment. We further aimed to investigate the mediating role of depression and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence in the relationship between GSP and viral load suppression.

Methods: Thirty HIV clinics across three districts were randomly assigned to deliver either GSP or GHE for depression.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons with epilepsy in Uganda: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the disease course, lives, and psychosocial wellbeing of persons with epilepsy (PWE) in Uganda.

Methods: From April 2021 till May 2021, we carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study at four hospitals located in four regions of Uganda. PWE presenting at the study sites were offered a structured questionnaire in the local language.

Minimum and optimal numbers of psychiatric beds: expert consensus using a Delphi process.

The required minimum number of psychiatric inpatient beds is highly debated and has substantial resource implications. The present study used the Delphi method to try to reach a global consensus on the minimum and optimal psychiatric bed numbers. An international board of scientific advisors nominated the Delphi panel members.

Mental health interventions for persons living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

Introduction: Addressing the intersection between mental health and HIV is critical for the wellbeing of persons living with HIV (PLWH). This systematic review synthesized the literature on mental health interventions for PLWH in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to determine intervention components and explore their relationship with intervention effectiveness.

Methods: We included only controlled clinical trials of interventions aiming to improve the mental health of PLWH.

Use of the creating opportunities for parent empowerment programme to decrease mental health problems in Ugandan children surviving severe malaria: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Severe malaria is associated with long-term mental health problems in Ugandan children. This study investigated the effect of a behavioural intervention for caregivers of children admitted with severe malaria, on the children's mental health outcomes 6 months after discharge.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at Naguru Hospital in Kampala, Uganda from January 2018 to July 2019.

Quality of individual and group level interventions for first-episode psychosis at the tertiary psychiatric hospital in Uganda.

Background: Individual and group level interventions have the largest effect on outcomes in patients with the first episode of psychosis. The quality of these individual and group level interventions provided to first-episode psychosis patients in Uganda is unclear.

Aim: To determine the quality of the individual and group level interventions provided to first episode psychosis patients in Uganda.

Long-Term Impact of War, Civil War, and Persecution in Civilian Populations-Conflict and Post-Traumatic Stress in African Communities.

This chapter describes how chronic conflict, warfare, and persecution, as lived experiences, have created significant mental distress in communities on the African continent. There is a growing body of research that highlights increasing mental distress in Africa e.g.

Major Depressive Disorder Among HIV Infected Youth in Uganda: Incidence, Persistence and Their Predictors.

Incidence and persistence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in children and adolescents with HIV (CA-HIV) in Uganda is described. 1339 CA-HIV attending care were enrolled and followed up for 12 months. MDD was assessed using the DSM-5 referenced Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory-5 (CASI-5), with a prevalence for MDD at baseline of 5% (95% CI 3.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of group support psychotherapy delivered by trained lay health workers for depression treatment among people with HIV in Uganda: a cluster-randomised trial.

Background: WHO recommends the use of psychological interventions as first-line treatment for depression in low-income and middle-income countries. However, evaluations of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of such interventions among people with HIV are scarce. Our aim was to establish the effectiveness of group support psychotherapy (GSP) delivered by lay health workers for depression treatment among people living with HIV in a rural area of Uganda on a large scale.

One year prevalence of psychotic disorders among first treatment contact patients at the National Psychiatric Referral and Teaching Hospital in Uganda.

Introduction: Hospital based studies for psychotic disorders are scarce in low and middle income countries. This may impact on development of intervention programs.

Objective: We aimed to determine the burden of psychotic disorders among first treatment contact patients at the national psychiatric referral hospital in Uganda.

Possibilities for the future of global mental health: a scenario planning approach.

Background: Global mental health is a widely used term describing initiatives in policies, research and practice to improve the mental health of people worldwide. It has been gaining momentum over the last 10 years, reflected in increasing funding opportunities, training programmes, and publications. In light of the rising importance of global mental health and the various uncertainties about its future directions, this paper explores what the future may hold for global mental health in 30 years' time.

Implementing clinical guidelines to promote integration of mental health services in primary health care: a qualitative study of a systems policy intervention in Uganda.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are developed based on a synthesis of evidence regarding the best options for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and are recognized as essential quality improvement tools. However, despite growing availability of CPG, research evaluating their use for mental disorders in Uganda is lacking. For a successful implementation of CPG to be achieved, a number of considerations need to be put in place.

Rates, types and co-occurrence of emotional and behavioural disorders among perinatally HIV-infected youth in Uganda: the CHAKA study.

Purpose: To describe the rates, types and comorbidity of emotional and behavioural disorders among perinatally HIV-infected children and adolescents attending care at five HIV youth clinics in Central and Southwestern Uganda.

Methods: 1339 CA-HIV attending care at HIV youth clinics in Uganda were interviewed using the DSM-5-based Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory-5 (CASI-5; caregiver reported) and the Youth Inventory-4R (YI-4R; youth reported). Prevalence, risk factors and comorbidity for psychiatric disorders were estimated using logistic regression models.