Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) randomized controlled trial in Lebanon

We conducted a two-arm, single-blind, individually randomized group treatment trial. Adolescents aged 10 to 14 years who screened positive for psychological distress using the Pediatric Symptom Scale (PSC) were randomly allocated to EASE or enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU) (1:1.6). ETAU consisted of a scripted psycho-education home-visit session with the adolescent and their caregivers. EASE consists of seven group sessions with adolescents and three sessions with caregivers. The primary outcome was adolescent-reported psychological distress as measured with the PSC (internalizing, externalizing, and attentional symptoms). Secondary outcomes included depression, posttraumatic stress, well-being, functioning, and caregivers’ parenting and distress. All outcomes were assessed at baseline, endline, and 3 months (primary time point) and 12 months follow-up. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other adversities in Lebanon at the time of this research, the study was prematurely terminated, resulting in an under-powered trial sample (n=198 enrolled compared to n=445 targeted). We screened 604 children for eligibility. The 198 enrolled adolescents were assigned to EASE (n=80) and ETAU (n=118).