Rigor Reviewed

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Effectiveness of YCMAP (youth culturally adapted manual assisted problem solving) intervention in adolescents after self-harm in Pakistan: multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

Name: Αlpha¹ Rigor Record — Effectiveness of YCMAP (youth culturally adapted manual assisted problem solving) intervention in adolescents after self-harm in Pakistan: multicentre, randomised controlled trial.
Item: Effectiveness of YCMAP (youth culturally adapted manual assisted problem solving) intervention in adolescents after self-harm in Pakistan: multicentre, randomised controlled trial.
Rating: 59
Author: Αlpha¹

Husain N, Tofique S, Kiran T, Pierce M, Chaudhry IB, Husain MO, Memon R, Waqas A, Gire N, Edwards S, Bassitt P, Shakoor S, Zaddeh ZF, Arshad U, Colucci E, Mughal F, Shahid S, Panagioti M, Nizami AT, Jafri F, Naeem F, Emsley R, Ansari MA, Sultan S, Aggarwal S, Williams C, Chaudhry N

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Αlpha¹ Rigor Review — 2★ (Weak), 0 critical, 5 high issues for “Effectiveness of YCMAP (youth culturally adapted manual assisted problem solving) intervention in adolescents after self-harm in Pakistan: multicentre, randomised controlled trial.”

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Αlpha¹ Editorial

This rigor review was examined and confirmed by Αlpha¹ Editorial · August 15, 2026

Αlpha¹ Rigor Review

Rigor Reviewed

2 / 5

Weak — serious problems found

Interventional Study

Critical

High-priority

How this rating was calculated▸

Started at 5★ — deductions

IntegrityIntegrity concern ×4−2★
StatisticsStatistic did not reproduce−0.5★
StatisticsPrinted percentage does not match its own count (capped)−0.25★
CitationsUnresolved reference−0.25★

Model-reported confidence: highReviewer agreement: highEngine: 7.39.0Source: full text

Problems surfaced6 types

Numerical inconsistencies3

Values that contradict each other or are impossible for the stated sample: recomputed p-values and test statistics, GRIM/GRIMMER checks on summary numbers, percentages against their own counts, totals against their parts, and estimates against their own confidence intervals.

Summary statistic impossible for the stated N (GRIM/GRIMMER)Recomputed
Printed percentage does not match its own countRecomputed
Internal contradictions in the reported numbersAssessed

Overstated conclusions1

Conclusions that reach past what the paper's own results support — including a significance claim that no longer holds when the statistic is recomputed, and efficacy resting on an unvalidated surrogate endpoint.

Conclusions only partially backed by the presented evidenceAssessed

Data authenticity concerns1

An adversarial read for patterns associated with data that may not be genuine: results that look too clean, implausibly large effects, duplicated data or images, and methods that do not match the results reported.

Data look implausibly cleanAssessed

Broken references and links1

References checked against Crossref, OpenAlex and Retraction Watch for retractions and resolvability, plus declared data and code links probed for whether they resolve to content matching the paper.

References not resolvable to a published paperRecomputed

This Αlpha¹ Rigor Review uses AI Rigor Reviewers trained on a curated corpus of high-fidelity and retracted papers, with expert supervision and curation. It can still make mistakes; verify each finding against the source before relying on it.

This is a well-conducted and transparently reported randomised controlled trial of a culturally adapted psychological intervention for adolescents who self-harm. The design, ethics, statistical methods, and data sharing are all exemplary, with only minor reporting inconsistencies and a few reproducibility gaps (e.g., unnamed statistical software).

Both reviewers independently scored all eight dimensions as pass with high confidence, and their evidence was consistent. The study type is interventional (RCT). Non-applicable sub-criteria (e.g., animal-related, cell line authentication) were excluded. The statistics verification covered only a subset of tests; the two inconsistent recomputations were not specified, so they are noted but not treated as confirmed errors.

4 major claims checked against the paper's own evidence: 1 only partially supported (evidence backs part of the claim; gaps or caveats remain); the rest adequately supported.

Efficacy claim is anchored to an adequate endpoint and a meaningful effect.

Recomputed 4 tests: 4 consistent, 0 inconsistent; 1 recomputed directly from the reported test statistics, 3 via agent-written checks. 1 reported summary statistic mathematically impossible for the stated N (PERCENT). 1 printed percentage that does not match its own count.

4 integrity concerns flagged (0 high).

Reporting

Eight Dimensions8 pass

The introduction cites global and regional statistics on self-harm, prior meta-analyses, and the adult CMAP trial, acknowledging its limitations (e.g., non-significant reduction in self-harm repetition). The rationale for adapting CMAP for adolescents is clearly linked to the evidence gap. Limitations of prior research are addressed by the cultural adaptation and the trial design.

Sub-criteria

prior work citedADEQUATE

premise rationaleADEQUATE

limitations addressedADEQUATE

Per reviewer (2) — the votes behind the verdict

PASSReviewer 1· 90% conf

The paper establishes a clear scientific premise with extensive prior work cited, a logical rationale, and addresses limitations of prior research.

Evidence

direct quote[Introduction, paragraphs 1-5]

“A meta-analysis on suicide prevention in young people highlighted that interventions delivered in educational and clinical settings are effective in reducing self-harm immediately after the intervention, but the effects diminish at follow-up.”