Feasibility of Empowerment Group Therapy on Ukrainian Adult Outpatients
The Effects of Empowerment Group Therapy on Ukrainian Adult Outpatients Located Inside the Country During the War
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
55 participants
Nov 5, 2024
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This single-arm pilot study aims to explore the feasibility and acceptability of the culturally adapted, Ukrainian version of the Empowerment Group Therapy (Wiechers, 2023) manual and accompanying workbook for the Ukrainian population affected by the ongoing war. Feasibility will be evaluated based on participant retention. Acceptability will be assessed through questionnaires and qualitative feedback. The study also gathers preliminary data on the effectiveness of the intervention by assessing changes in quality of life, stress, symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and somatization. Overall, it seeks to explore the relevance and impact of group-based resilience therapy in a conflict-affected setting.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria10
- Civilians
- years of age or older
- Residency in Ukraine at the onset of the full-scale war in Ukraine and at the time of the study
- Ability to participate in in-person or online sessions
- Ability to participate in online sessions, including communication via smartphone chat
- Speaks Ukrainian or Russian
- Presence of depression, anxiety, stress according to DSM-5 criteria, or psychological distress directly or indirectly caused by the war (other conditions may be included if deemed appropriate by a physician)
- Moderate severity of symptoms on the depression, anxiety, or stress subscale of the DASS-21
- Anyone who, upon being placed on the waiting list, recognizes a need for help and support is eligible to participate
- Signed informed consent form
Exclusion Criteria8
- Lack of informed consent
- Diagnosis of schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, degenerative disorders, or significant cognitive impairments
- Use of psychoactive substances and alcohol
- Acute risk of suicide
- Ongoing psychotherapy or psychotherapy within the past 3 months
- Psychopharmacological treatment (at the discretion of the therapist during screening)
- Current inpatient treatment
- Incomplete screening questionnaires
Interventions
Empowerment is a manualized, culturally sensitive treatment program. The treatment is based on a modular principle that transdiagnostically targets major symptom domains (e.g. stress, depression, anxiety), and can be flexibly adapted to individual mental health conditions of clients who participate in this program. The intervention is designed as a psychological group intervention for resource-limited settings and scalable for different formats (i.e. in-person, online, hybrid) to be feasible under the unstable conditions of war (e.g. missile attacks, power outrages). Key therapeutic elements are psychoeducation, emotion regulation strategies, problem solving and building coping skills. The activation of individual and culture-specific resources as well as building self-help skills are at focus of the treatment.
Locations(1)
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NCT07048990