A Quasi-Experimental Trial on the Effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy in Adults with Major Depressive Disorder at a Tertiary Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia

A Quasi-Experimental Trial on the Effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy in Adults with Major Depressive Disorder at a Tertiary Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article A Quasi-Experimental Trial on the Effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy in Adults with Major Depressive Disorder at a Tertiary Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia Saida Asmal, Liyali Libonda This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7956074/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and debilitating condition. Despite the widespread occurrence of the condition, access to available therapeutic options is severely limited in low-income countries. The study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT) in managing MDD in adults in a Zambian cultural setting in Lusaka. Methods A quasi-experimental pre-post same group design was employed with repeated assessments over 6 and 12 weeks between August and October 2024. The sample size was estimated using the effect size sampling formula for a pre-post-trial and a total of 30 participants was desired. Participants were interviewed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM5), the Becks Depression Inventory (BDI), and the WHO Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-Brief) at baseline. Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT) was then implemented upon ascertaining the participants study eligibility. The generalized Estimating Equation (GEE), paired t-tests, and descriptive statistics were employed in the data analysis. The JASP (0.19) analytical software was utilized to perform the statistical analysis. Results Although the desired sample size was 30, only 28 were willing to participate, giving a 93.3% retention rate. Half (50%) of the participants were aged between 18–25 with only 14% accounting for participants above 40 years. Females made up 64.3% of the total participants and approximately 92.9% of the participants identified as Christians. Thirteen (46.4%) participants had severe depressive symptoms at baseline, with the proportion significantly reducing to 7 (25%; p = 0.031) at 6 weeks of REBT and 0 (0%) after 12 weeks. Majority (71.4%) were experiencing mild symptoms (p < 0.001) after the study period. Physical health and religion were statistically significant (ß = -1.58, 95% CI = -2.24— -0.91, p < 0.001; ß = 3.70, 95% CI = 1.01—6.38, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion The study showed REBT to likely lead to a significant reduction in depressive symptoms and thus, could be utilized in the management of MDD. Depression Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy Effectiveness Quality of Life Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 10 Dec, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 08 Dec, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 10 Nov, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 05 Nov, 2025 First submitted to journal 04 Nov, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7956074","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":558232200,"identity":"05664370-7633-4ec6-a02a-e4b0f921e7ba","order_by":0,"name":"Saida Asmal","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Zambia","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Saida","middleName":"","lastName":"Asmal","suffix":""},{"id":558232203,"identity":"9d2d0e24-c237-4cae-9ffe-54547b2a6b1b","order_by":1,"name":"Liyali 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Zambia","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bulletin-of-the-national-research-centre","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"bnrc","sideBox":"Learn more about [Bulletin of the National Research Centre](https://BNRC.springeropen.com)","snPcode":"42269","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/42269/3","title":"Bulletin of the National Research Centre","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Open","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Depression, Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy, Effectiveness, Quality of Life","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7956074/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7956074/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and debilitating condition. Despite the widespread occurrence of the condition, access to available therapeutic options is severely limited in low-income countries. The study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT) in managing MDD in adults in a Zambian cultural setting in Lusaka.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA quasi-experimental pre-post same group design was employed with repeated assessments over 6 and 12 weeks between August and October 2024. The sample size was estimated using the effect size sampling formula for a pre-post-trial and a total of 30 participants was desired. Participants were interviewed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM5), the Becks Depression Inventory (BDI), and the WHO Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-Brief) at baseline. Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT) was then implemented upon ascertaining the participants study eligibility. The generalized Estimating Equation (GEE), paired t-tests, and descriptive statistics were employed in the data analysis. The JASP (0.19) analytical software was utilized to perform the statistical analysis.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough the desired sample size was 30, only 28 were willing to participate, giving a 93.3% retention rate. Half (50%) of the participants were aged between 18\u0026ndash;25 with only 14% accounting for participants above 40 years. Females made up 64.3% of the total participants and approximately 92.9% of the participants identified as Christians. Thirteen (46.4%) participants had severe depressive symptoms at baseline, with the proportion significantly reducing to 7 (25%; p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.031) at 6 weeks of REBT and 0 (0%) after 12 weeks. Majority (71.4%) were experiencing mild symptoms (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) after the study period. Physical health and religion were statistically significant (\u0026szlig; = -1.58, 95% CI = -2.24\u0026mdash; -0.91, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; \u0026szlig; = 3.70, 95% CI\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.01\u0026mdash;6.38, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001, respectively).\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe study showed REBT to likely lead to a significant reduction in depressive symptoms and thus, could be utilized in the management of MDD.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"A Quasi-Experimental Trial on the Effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy in Adults with Major Depressive Disorder at a Tertiary Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-12-11 22:42:06","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7956074/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"209931614156594826307234907356901044921","date":"2025-12-10T12:20:15+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-12-08T10:49:44+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-11-10T09:04:27+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-11-05T07:19:55+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Bulletin of the National Research Centre","date":"2025-11-04T12:19:13+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bulletin-of-the-national-research-centre","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"bnrc","sideBox":"Learn more about [Bulletin of the National Research Centre](https://BNRC.springeropen.com)","snPcode":"42269","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/42269/3","title":"Bulletin of the National Research Centre","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Open","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"2203eaf3-8234-4d02-bdc2-3256420260b3","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 11th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-12T11:55:10+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-12-11 22:42:06","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7956074","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7956074","identity":"rs-7956074","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}