"Culturally Adapted CBT for Depression in Arab and Asian Adolescents in the UAE (CA-CBT)"

This study was a two-arm, parallel-group, single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted to assess the efficacy of a newly developed Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CA-CBT) for adolescent depression in the multicultural context of the UAE. The trial involved 175 adolescents aged 13-18 from Arab, Filipino, and other Asian backgrounds who met the inclusion criteria of scoring ≥10 on the PHQ-A (Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents). Participants were randomized to either the CA-CBT intervention group or a treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group. The CA-CBT group received an 8-week manualized intervention tailored to the cultural values of Arab and Asian adolescents, including content adaptations (e.g., academic and family stress in Filipinos, spiritual concerns in Arabs), process modifications (e.g., family involvement, religious framing), and therapist training. The Southampton Adaptation Framework (SAF-CaCBT) and PEN-3 model guided the cultural adaptation. Sessions were delivered by trained facilitators fluent in English, with support in Arabic and Tagalog. The TAU group received standard mental health resources as available in the community, including school counselors and primary care services. All participants were assessed at baseline (T0) and after the intervention (T1) using validated tools including PHQ-A for depression and DASS-21 for anxiety and stress. Primary analysis used a 2 (Group) x 2 (Time) repeated measures ANOVA. Results showed a significant time-by-group interaction, with CA-CBT participants experiencing a greater reduction in depressive symptoms (mean difference = -6.8, p \< .001, ηp² = .095) compared to the TAU group. Dropout rates were significantly lower in the CA-CBT group (10.2%) than in the TAU group (19.5%), supporting higher engagement and cultural congruence. The study protocol received ethical approval from the Bath Spa University Academic Centre RAK IRB (Ref # BSU-RAK-PSYCH-2025-0011) and was registered prospectively (ISRCTN14751844). The findings demonstrate that CA-CBT is a culturally valid and effective intervention for adolescent depression in diverse populations and support the integration of culturally tailored therapies in school and community-based mental health care systems.