Family program to reduce depression and partner violence for young women in Nepal
Official title: A randomized controlled trial of a Multi-component family Intervention to Lower depression and Address intimate Partner violence (MILAP) among young women in Nepal
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11306101 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers a family-based program that brings young women, their husbands, and mothers-in-law together in Nepal to try to lower depression and reduce intimate partner violence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $285,914 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH135376-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11306101 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are young women in Nepal who live with a husband and mother-in-law and who are experiencing or at risk for intimate partner violence, with household members willing to participate.
✕Less likely to help
Women who do not live with a husband or mother-in-law, whose family members refuse to join, or those in need of immediate protective services may not benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
If you join, households will be randomly assigned to receive the MILAP program or usual care, and the program includes family sessions teaching coping, communication, and cognitive-behavioral skills alongside safety planning. The intervention actively involves husbands and mothers-in-law as well as the young woman to address extended household dynamics that affect mental health. Researchers will track depressive symptoms, experiences of partner violence, and changes in family relationships over time. MILAP was developed from pilot work and will be delivered in selected Nepali communities by the study team.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower depression, reduce partner violence, and strengthen family support and safety for young women.
How similar studies have gone: CBT-style approaches have helped depression after women leave abusive relationships, but actively including husbands and mothers-in-law is relatively new and MILAP builds on promising pilot results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Acharya, Bibhav — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Acharya, Bibhav
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Family program to reduce depression and partner violence for young married women in Nepal
This program brings together young married women, their husbands, and mothers‑in‑law to reduce depression and intimate partner violence and improve family support in Nepal.
-
A family intervention to reduce depression and intimate partner violence among young women in Nepal
This study is looking at a special program designed to help young women in Nepal who are dealing with depression and intimate partner violence by involving their husbands and mothers-in-law to create a supportive family environment for healing.
-
A universal school program to help middle schoolers stay emotionally regulated and safer
A school-based program teaches students calming skills to reduce violence and thoughts of self-harm, tested in a randomized trial with middle schoolers.
-
Targeted online suicide prevention for Veterans
A web-based, one-session intervention for Veterans to reduce thoughts of suicide and self-harm by helping them manage distress and rigid thinking.
-
Neurocognitive processing of gun-violence media and teen anxiety and depression
A study with adolescents will look at how daily exposure to gun-violence news affects brain patterns and mood in teens.
-
A computerized program to help veterans manage depression and get back to functioning
A computer-based depression program (Deprexis) is being tested to help veterans feel better and return to work and daily activities.
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.