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

CA-CBT is an 8-week manualized therapy program based on core CBT principles, adapted for Arab and Asian adolescents in the UAE. Adaptations followed the Southampton Adaptation Framework (SAF-CaCBT) and the PEN-3 model, including culturally relevant metaphors, integration of religious/spiritual beliefs, family involvement, and emphasis on academic and familial stressors. Sessions were delivered weekly for 60 minutes by trained therapists, with support in English, Arabic, and Tagalog.

Participants in the TAU group received standard care available within their community. This included optional access to school counselors, general practitioners, or local mental health clinics. No structured psychotherapy or manualized intervention was provided by the research team. This arm served as a pragmatic comparator to evaluate the added value of the Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CA-CBT) intervention.