Strengthening process and outcomes of psychotherapies and leveraging academic-, policy-, and clinical partnerships to develop Routine Monitoring System in Kenya (SPARK)

ObjectiveThe efficacy of mental health interventions within sub-Saharan African settings remains underexplored. The proposed SPARK project seeks to illuminate the pathways for enhancing talking therapy outcomes in Kenya.

This exploration is structured around:Assessing talking therapy´s impact within routine practice across two key sites,Identifying patient cohorts exhibiting minimal response to therapy,Unraveling the obstacles and catalysts to therapeutic success, andDeciphering the change mechanisms triggered by psychotherapeutic interventions.MethodsProcess and outcome of talking therapy will be studied by implementing a Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) system.

Sensitivity to cultural and socioeconomic contexts is key throughout the project.Project GovernanceThe main applicant assumes comprehensive oversight of project facets including coordination, financial management, scheduling, data scrutiny, and the dissemination.

In tandem, site-specific Principal Investigators are responsible for data collection, stakeholder engagement, and local dissemination.TimelineThe ROM system will be implemented from 2025-2028, followed by final data collection, analysis, and report compilations in 2029.SignificancePositioned as the inaugural large-scale empirical investigation into routine mental health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa, the SPARK project will gather the initial data for improving and personalizing mental healthcare across the region.