EFFICACY OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY IN REDUCING DEPRESSION AMONG IDPs IN THE NORTH EAST AND NORTH CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study found out the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy in reducing depression among IDPs in the North east and North central, Nigeria. The study was a quasi-experimental study which adopted pretest/post-test control group design. The population consisted of male and female IDPs with mild and moderate symptoms of depression in Borno and Benue States. The sample size for the study was made up of 60 IDPs. Out of this, 30 were drawn from Agan, Benue State (15 in the treatment group and 15 in the control group) and 30 from Mongonu, Borno State (15 in the treatment group and 15 in the control group). It was hypothesized that there was no significant difference in the pretest and posttest scores of symptoms of depression among the IDPs in Benue and Borno States after the application of cognitive behavioural therapy, and that there was no significant effect of age, gender and marital status on the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy in reducing symptoms of depression among IDPs in Benue and Borno States. Independent t-test and ANOVA were used as statistical analysis. Results showed that significant differences existed in the pre-test and post-test mean scores of depression symptoms among the IDPs in the treatment groups in both States. There was no significant effect of age, gender and marital status on the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy in reducing symptoms of depression among IDPs in both Benue and Borno States. It was recommended among others that adequate provisions should be made by Benue and Borno State governments and of course the Federal government for urgent and regular application of cognitive behavioural therapy by experienced psychologists in all the IDP camps in order to treat the IDPs with symptoms of depression and that Benue and Borno State governments and all relevant stakeholders should be mindful of possible occurrence of cognitive depression among the IDPs irrespective of their ages, and use cognitive behavioural therapy directed at all age groups to treat them of depression symptoms if they manifest.