Current Projects

Introduction

The lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders exceeds 3% and these are among the most disabling illnesses worldwide. Treatment of schizophrenia early in the course of the illness is linked to better outcomes, and accurately identifying individuals before the onset of psychotic illness holds promise for developing preventative interventions and minimizing the burden of schizophrenia. This has particular relevance in sub-Saharan Africa, where financial and health care resources for managing psychotic disorders are extremely limited.

Project Goal

A pilot measure that aims at the development and evaluation of new concepts of integrated community-based mental health services for Somalia and for Somali refugees in neighboring countries.

Project Goal

To adapt an evidence-based intervention (motivational interviewing; MI) to be used over the mobile phone by trained clinicians to treat substance abuse.

Objectives

1. Assess feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of using mobile phones to provide MI to substance abusing adults
2. Quantify the varying response to MI treatment for participants with psychiatric problems and identify areas for future intervention
End date:September 2015

Introduction

A cross sectional survey on the prevalence and determinants of alcohol and substance use among primary and high schools students. This project, will not only look at patterns and prevalence of substance use in urban primary and secondary schools, but will also identify factors that encourage alcohol intake by adolescents include parenting, cultural factors and the home environment.

Project Goal

1.To estimate the prevalence of depression in patients on follow up with type 2 diabetes mellitus and determine the incidence within a year.
2. To determine the clinical course of treated and untreated depression on diabetes: complications and metabolic control over a one year follow-up period

Objectives

1. Estimate the prevalence and incidence (over 12 months) of depressive disorders and diabetes related distress in adults currently receiving care for type 2 diabetes
2. Examine the course and treatment of type 2 diabetes in people with and without depressive disorders over a 12 month follow-up period.
3. Examine the relationships between depression, diabetes-related distress, diabetes complications and metabolic control in the following in people with and without other co morbid mental or physical illness.
4. Assess the impact of appropriate treatment of depression (both previously diagnosed as well as unrecognized) on the course of diabetes, and on patients’ emotional well-being.
5. To assess the specificity and sensitivity of two depression screening instruments (the PHQ-9 and the WHO-5) when used in people with type 2 diabetes
6. To compare the collected data among countries applying the same protocol.
End date: January 2016

Project Goal

To determine the change, over treatment in DNA telomere length in the intervention versus the control arm of the study

Objectives

1. To determine the change in DNA telomere length over 18 months
2. To determine the correlation between the change in DNA telomere length and the clinical treatment outcomes in the study participants in both the intervention and control arms of the study.

Project Goal

To determine the prevalence and factors affecting peri-partum depression in rural Kenya and determine the psychometric validity of the Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression scale in Kenya.

Objectives

1. To determine the prevalence of depression among women in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester as well as in the first 5 years after birth.
2. To determine the correlations between children’s neuro-developmental aspects and mothers’ depressive status using ASEBA, DC: 0-3R, MINI PLUS and routine MCH data.
3. To determine the prevalence of alcohol consumption among pregnant and postpartum women respondents, using AUDIT questionnaire.
4. To determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence among pregnant and postpartum women respondents.
5. To determine the reliability and validity of EPDS as a screening tool for peri-partum depression compared to a gold standard (MINI PLUS) in Kenya.