Evaluating a depression treatment program on HIV care and mental health outcomes in Malawi

Among people initiating antiretroviral therapy, those with depression are a large and especially vulnerable population. The potential for depression treatment to improve HIV care outcomes has received little attention in the African region, in part because of the very limited mental health infrastructure in many countries.

This brief describes how Project SOAR is partnering with the Ministry of Health to implement and evaluate the integration of a depression management program into HIV care in Malawi. The project combines two depression treatment models—algorithm-based medication management and problem-solving therapy—into a single program that is offered at two HIV clinics in Lilongwe to patients newly initiating antiretroviral therapy and who have depressive symptoms.