| Abstract: |
We study the impact of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for individuals
selected from the general population of poor households in rural Ghana.
Results from 2-3 months after a randomized intervention show strong impacts on
mental and physical health, cognitive and socioemotional skills, and
downstream economic outcomes. We find no evidence of heterogeneity by baseline
mental distress; we argue that this is because CBT can improve human capital
for a general population of poor individuals through two pathways. First, CBT
reduces vulnerability to deteriorating mental health; and second, CBT directly
improves bandwidth, increasing cognitive and socioemotional skills and hence
economic outcomes. |