Problem Management Plus (PM): pilot trail of a WHO transdiagnostic psychological intervention in conflict-affected Pakistan

Abstract

The mental health consequences of conflict and natural disaster are substantial and wide‐ranging. There is an urgent need for interventions by non‐specialist workers that can address a range of mental health problems. The World Health Organization (WHO)’s Problem Management Plus (PM+) is a brief transdiagnostic psychological intervention employing evidence‐based strategies of problem solving, behavioural activation, strengthening social support, and stress management4. We adapted the individual treatment format of this intervention for conflict‐affected Peshawar in Pakistan. It consisted of five face‐to‐face sessions, with a key feature of being affordable in most settings, because it can be offered not only by specialists but also by supervised non‐specialists with no prior training or experience in mental health care delivery. This research was supported by the Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) Programme