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Cognitive behavioral therapy among Ghana’s rural poor is effective regardless of baseline mental distress

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  • Barker, Nathan
  • Bryan, Gharad
  • Karlan, Dean
  • Ofori-Atta, Angela L.
  • Udry, Christopher

Abstract

We study the impact of group-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for individuals selected from the general population of poor households in rural Ghana (N = 7,227). Results from one to three months after the program show strong impacts on mental and perceived physical health, cognitive and socioemotional skills, and economic self-perceptions. These effects hold regardless of baseline mental distress. We argue that this is because CBT can improve well-being for a general population of poor individuals through two pathways: reducing vulnerability to deteriorating mental health and directly increasing cognitive capacity and socioemotional skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Barker, Nathan & Bryan, Gharad & Karlan, Dean & Ofori-Atta, Angela L. & Udry, Christopher, 2022. "Cognitive behavioral therapy among Ghana’s rural poor is effective regardless of baseline mental distress," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 114397, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:114397
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/114397/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christopher Blattman & Julian C. Jamison & Margaret Sheridan, 2017. "Reducing Crime and Violence: Experimental Evidence from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Liberia," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(4), pages 1165-1206, April.
    2. James J. Heckman & Jora Stixrud & Sergio Urzua, 2006. "The Effects of Cognitive and Noncognitive Abilities on Labor Market Outcomes and Social Behavior," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 24(3), pages 411-482, July.
    3. Johannes Haushofer & Robert Mudida & Jeremy P. Shapiro, 2020. "The Comparative Impact of Cash Transfers and a Psychotherapy Program on Psychological and Economic Well-being," NBER Working Papers 28106, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Young, Alwyn, 2019. "Channeling Fisher: randomization tests and the statistical insignificance of seemingly significant experimental results," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101401, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Sule Alan & Teodora Boneva & Seda Ertac, 2019. "Ever Failed, Try Again, Succeed Better: Results from a Randomized Educational Intervention on Grit," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 134(3), pages 1121-1162.
    6. Alwyn Young, 2019. "Channeling Fisher: Randomization Tests and the Statistical Insignificance of Seemingly Significant Experimental Results," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 134(2), pages 557-598.
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    Cited by:

    1. Banerjee, R. & Blunch, N-H & Cassese, D. & Gupta, N. D. & Pin, P., 2024. "The Effectiveness of Teamwork for Student Academic Outcomes: Evidence from a Field Experiment," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2463, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    2. Banerjee, R. & Blunch, N-H & Cassese, D. & Gupta, N. D. & Pin, P., 2024. "The Effectiveness of Teamwork for Student Academic Outcomes: Evidence from a Field Experiment," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2463, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mental health; poverty; cognitive behavioral therapy; scarcity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure

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