Adolescent Depression Care in Pakistan: Adaptive Treatment by Schools
Official title: School based stepped care TrEatment for adolescent depression in Pakistan- a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART-STEP)
Funded at Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University · NIH-11421500 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A school-based program in Pakistan tests a stepped-care approach using an online teacher program and a self-help app to help 13-year-olds with depression and anxiety.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Islamabad, Pakistan) |
| Project start | September 14, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $434,007 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131025-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421500 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
13-year-old students in public schools in Islamabad who exhibit depressive or anxious symptoms and are willing to participate through school-based activities.
✕Less likely to help
Students without depression/anxiety symptoms or those not enrolled in participating public schools may see little to no benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests how to help adolescents in public schools by starting with an online teacher-led mental health program and then adding a CBT-based self-help app if a student isn’t responding, using a SMART design to tailor treatment. It builds on a global mental health hub and WHO material to fit local school settings, aiming for scalable, cost-effective care. Parents, teachers, and students would participate indirectly through school activities, with data collected to understand who benefits most and how to optimize sequencing and dosing of interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could provide a scalable, age-appropriate way to reduce depressive and anxious symptoms among school students in Pakistan.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot work showed feasibility and need for integrated, stepped-care approaches in school settings; this SMART design extends that work to tailor interventions.
Where this research is happening
-
Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University
Islamabad, Pakistan Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hamdani, Syed Usman — Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University
- Study coordinator: Hamdani, Syed Usman
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.