Evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children and youth in Ukraine during the war
Abstract Background The large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 resulted in a humanitarian crisis with hundreds of thousands of children exposed to traumatic events. To date, trauma-focused evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for children and youth have not been systematically evaluated a...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933825100321/type/journal_article |
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| Summary: | Abstract
Background
The large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 resulted in a humanitarian crisis with hundreds of thousands of children exposed to traumatic events. To date, trauma-focused evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for children and youth have not been systematically evaluated and implemented in Ukraine. This study aims at evaluating 1) the feasibility of a training program for Ukrainian therapists on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) and 2) the feasibility and effectiveness of the treatment for children, youth, and their families in and from Ukraine during the ongoing war.
Methods
The project “TF-CBT Ukraine” was implemented between March 2022 and May 2024, in close collaboration with local and international partners. Therapists completed questionnaires before/after the training, and patients were asked to complete a measure on PTSD before and after treatment.
Results
Altogether 138 therapists started the training program and 44.9% were certified as TF-CBT therapists. The program completers reported overall high satisfaction with the training program, a positive change in their attitude towards EBTs and trauma-related knowledge gain. The patients (age 3–21, 37% male) reported significant improvement in symptoms of PTSD at the end of treatment with large pre-post effect sizes for DSM-5 PTSD (d
selfreport = 2.36; d
caregiverreport = 2.27), ICD-11 PTSD (d
selfreport = 1.97; d
caregiverreport = 1.77), ICD-11 CPTSD (d
selfreport = 2.04; d
caregiverreport = 1.99), and DSM-5 pre-school PTSD (dcaregiverreport = 3.14).
Conclusions
The results of this study are promising in regard to the general implementation of trauma-focused EBTs in active conflict areas. Future studies need to replicate these findings in a randomized controlled study design.
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| ISSN: | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |