Non-specialist health worker interventions for mental health care in low- and middle- income countries

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 May 11;2011(5):CD009149. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009149.

Abstract

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows:

Overall objective: In order to assess the impact of delivery by non-specialist health workers (NSHWs) and other professionals with health roles (OPHRs) on the effectiveness of mental healthcare interventions in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), we will specifically analyse the effectiveness of NSHWs and OPHRS in delivering acute mental health interventions; as well as the effectiveness of NSHWs and OPHRs in delivering long term follow-up and rehabilitation for people with mental disorders; and the effect of the detection of mental disorders by NSHWs and OPHRs on patient and health delivery outcomes. For each of these objectives we will examine the current evidence for the impact of delivery by NSHWs and OPHRs on the resource use and costs associated with mental healthcare provision in LMICs.