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A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Behavioural and Psychosocial Intervention Therapies for Mental Health Disorders
Abdullah Shonola,
Bushirat Mulero,
Dawud A. Danzaki,
Aminat Adeniyi,
Modupe Ogidan,
Emmanuel Soyombo,
Raodat Abdulkareem
Affiliation: Forever Vision Eye Centre
Keywords: Mental-health, therapy, behavioural interventions, psychosocial interventions, anxiety, depression, PTSD, quality of life (QoL)
Categories: Medicine
DOI: 10.17160/josha.13.1.1072
Languages: English
This systematic review takes a close look at how effective behavioural and psychosocial interventions are for mental health disorders, pulling together evidence from studies published between 2020 and 2025. It primarily centralises on three specific groups—adolescents dealing with anxiety disorders, adults coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and individuals facing schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The review combines insights from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), meta-analyses, and top-notch observational research. Technology-assisted cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which includes computerized and app-based options, showed effectiveness on par with traditional face-to-face CBT for adolescent anxiety, plus it offers extra benefits in terms of accessibility and engagement. For PTSD, trauma-focused treatments like CBT and EMDR led to significant reductions in symptoms and better emotional regulation, although more research is needed to differentiate trauma-informed approaches and evaluate their effects on refugee populations as this was limited in the results obtained. Family-based psychosocial interventions, especially psychoeducation programs, notably lowered relapse rates and enhanced outcomes for caregivers in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of personalized, context-sensitive interventions and advocate for the integration of digital tools, trauma-informed care, and family-inclusive strategies into modern mental health practices.