Trial Phase: Syndemic Adapted Medly Uganda

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Syndemic-Adapted Medly Uganda (SAMU) in improving mental health care among adults living with HIV and hypertension in Uganda. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there is a high prevalence of depression and anxiety among people living with HIV (PLHIV) as well as alcohol use disorder (AUD). PLHIV who experience depression are less likely to link to HIV care, adhere to antiretroviral therapy, and achieve viral suppression. Building on research conducted to adapt Medly Uganda for mental health using a syndemic framework, this study aims to assess the effectiveness of SAMU on mental health screening and diagnosis. This will be accomplished through a two-arm trial in which 1. participants will be enrolled, screened, re-screened, and assessed for diagnosis and linkage to care for depression, anxiety and AUD and 2. evaluate the factors impacting sustained engagement in the SAMU program, through mixed methods.

NCT Number	NCT07525271
Lead Sponsor	Yale University Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Conditions	Mental Health
Enrollment	1,500 participants
Start Date	2026-07
Primary Completion	2028-03 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-06 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-07-16