Examining MEmory Training for Recovery-Adolescent among Afghan adolescent boys: a pilot randomised controlled trial

Following regain of the Taliban's control in August 2021, there have been rapid social and political changes in Afghanistan. This study sought to examine current mental health among adolescents in Afghanistan.

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of Memory Training for Recovery-Adolescent (METRA) intervention in improving psychiatric symptoms among adolescent boys in Afghanistan in comparison with a control group.

There were challenges in youth participation related to security and competing education demands. For those who did complete METRA, METRA was deemed feasible and acceptable. METRA participants had significantly greater reductions in depression, anxiety, Afghan-cultural distress symptoms and psychiatric difficulties than did Controls. All gains were maintained at three-month follow-up.

The conclusions were that with some modifications, METRA appears a feasible intervention for adolescent boys in humanitarian contexts in the aftermath of a terrorist attack.