NIHR RIGHT2: Behavioural activation intervention for depression and diabetes in South Asia (DiaDeM)

A UK and low- and middle-income country (LMIC) research partnership that aims to develop and evaluate a culturally adapted behavioural activation intervention for people with depression and diabetes in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Objectives The project aims to develop and test a culturally appropriate treatment for depression in people with diabetes in Bangladesh and Pakistan. This will be based on a relatively simple psychological talking treatment called Behavioural Activation (BA). The project's objectives are: 1. Develop and evaluate a culturally relevant, scalable behavioural activation intervention that can be delivered by non-specialists, and integrated within diabetes care. 2. Evaluate the clinical cost-effectiveness of the new intervention in comparison to optimised usual care practices. 3. Evaluate the economic impacts of diabetes and depression multimorbidities. The work will generate knowledge that can improve mental and physical health, reduce inequalities and stigma for vulnerable groups, and provide economic benefits. Research collaboration is also expected to lead to further enhanced capacity in applied mental-physical multimorbidity research and policymaking in Bangladesh and Pakistan.