Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression in Perinatal Adolescents in Kenya: A Pilot Randomized
By
Manasi Kumar
Albert Tele
Vincent Nyongesa
Obadia Yator
Shillah Mwaniga Mwavua
Joseph Kathono
Darius Nyamai
Angela Langat
Carol Ngunu
Anne Obondo
Keng Yen Huang
Caleb Othieno
June 16, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Interpersonal Psychotherapy in Groups for Treating Depression Among Perinatal Adolescents in Kenya: A Pilot Randomized Study
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Depression in perinatal adolescents Key Mechanisms Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) targeting interpersonal difficulties contributing to depressive symptoms Target Population Pregnant adolescents aged 13 to 18 years Care Setting Community health settings in Kenya
Key Highlights
High prevalence of depression among perinatal adolescents in Kenya IPT-G can enhance peer support and reduce reliance on specialist health workers Study compares standard 8-session IPT-G with a condensed 4-session mini IPT-G Task-shifting to nonspecialist health workers is a critical strategy for mental health care Mini IPT-G may serve as a scalable first-line treatment for mild to moderate depression Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for screening Management
Implement IPT-G with community health promoters for delivery Monitoring & Follow-up
Routine postnatal follow-up calls for participants in the TAU arm Risks
Exclusion of participants with current suicidal ideation or severe mental disorders Patient & Prescribing Data
Pregnant adolescents aged 13 to 18 years with depressive symptoms
Condensed IPT-G may retain clinical benefits while improving feasibility
Clinical Best Practices
Engage participants through purposive and snowball sampling Ensure fluency in English or Kiswahili for participation Provide written informed consent prior to intervention Related Resources & Content
