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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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933825100321/type/journal_article |
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| author | Elisa Pfeiffer Maike Garbade Renée Beer Anette Birgersson Natalie Cabrera Judith A. Cohen Esther Deblinger Rafaela Gjini Veronica Kirsch Zlatina Kostova Michael Larsson Anthony Mannarino Gavin Moffitt Marja Onsjö Tale Ostensjo Anna Vikgren Hanna Weyler Vitalii Klymchuk Cedric Sachser |
| author_facet | Elisa Pfeiffer Maike Garbade Renée Beer Anette Birgersson Natalie Cabrera Judith A. Cohen Esther Deblinger Rafaela Gjini Veronica Kirsch Zlatina Kostova Michael Larsson Anthony Mannarino Gavin Moffitt Marja Onsjö Tale Ostensjo Anna Vikgren Hanna Weyler Vitalii Klymchuk Cedric Sachser |
| author_sort | Elisa Pfeiffer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cef26122f768460385b2e161347ff3fc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-cef26122f768460385b2e161347ff3fc2025-08-20T03:55:49ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852025-01-016810.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.10032Evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children and youth in Ukraine during the warElisa Pfeiffer0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9742-3004Maike Garbade1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4585-7708Renée Beer2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1093-1311Anette Birgersson3Natalie Cabrera4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4252-4198Judith A. Cohen5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2219-9802Esther Deblinger6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1081-2961Rafaela Gjini7https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4467-587XVeronica Kirsch8https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7086-1306Zlatina Kostova9Michael Larsson10Anthony Mannarino11https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0964-0231Gavin Moffitt12https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8575-6068Marja Onsjö13https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4220-5816Tale Ostensjo14https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6082-9658Anna Vikgren15Hanna Weyler16https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1772-9620Vitalii Klymchuk17https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7898-5530Cedric Sachser18https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9353-7936Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, https://ror.org/032000t02 Ulm University , Ulm, Germany German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Cite Ulm, Ulm, Germany Department of Clinical Psychology and Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, https://ror.org/00mx91s63 Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt , Ingolstadt, GermanyClinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, https://ror.org/032000t02 Ulm University , Ulm, Germany German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Cite Ulm, Ulm, GermanyPrivate Practice for Education, Consultation and Therapy, Amsterdam, The NetherlandMarie Cederschiölds University, Stockholm, SwedenTF-CBT Australia, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/02gy6qp39 Allegheny General Hospital , Pittsburgh, PA, USARowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, CARES Institute, Stratford, NJ, USA Department of Psychiatry, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, USAClinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, https://ror.org/032000t02 Ulm University , Ulm, Germany German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Cite Ulm, Ulm, GermanyPrivate Practice, Augsburg, GermanyChan Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/0464eyp60 University of Massachusetts , MA, USAPrivate Practice, Enhetshälsa Sverige AB, Ängelholm Sweden Child and Youth Psychiatry, Falun Sweden, BUP-Capio, Falun, SwedenDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/02gy6qp39 Allegheny General Hospital , Pittsburgh, PA, USATF-CBT Australia, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaPrivate Practice for Education and Consultation, Psykolog Onsjö, Gothenburg, SwedenPrivate Practice, Oslo, Norway Psychology Department, https://ror.org/01xtthb56 University of Oslo , Oslo, NorwayCentre for Support and Treatment, https://ror.org/02y2gng66 Save the Children Sweden , Göteborg, SwedenCentre for Support and Treatment, https://ror.org/02y2gng66 Save the Children Sweden , Stockholm, Swedenhttps://ror.org/036x5ad56 University of Luxemourg , Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg Mental Health for Ukraine Project, Lviv City, UkraineClinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, https://ror.org/032000t02 Ulm University , Ulm, Germany German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Cite Ulm, Ulm, Germany Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, https://ror.org/01c1w6d29 Otto Friedrich University Bamberg , Bamberg, GermanyAbstract 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. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933825100321/type/journal_articlechildrentrauma-focused treatmentUkrainewarPTSD |
| spellingShingle | Elisa Pfeiffer Maike Garbade Renée Beer Anette Birgersson Natalie Cabrera Judith A. Cohen Esther Deblinger Rafaela Gjini Veronica Kirsch Zlatina Kostova Michael Larsson Anthony Mannarino Gavin Moffitt Marja Onsjö Tale Ostensjo Anna Vikgren Hanna Weyler Vitalii Klymchuk Cedric Sachser Evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children and youth in Ukraine during the war European Psychiatry children trauma-focused treatment Ukraine war PTSD |
| title | Evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children and youth in Ukraine during the war |
| title_full | Evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children and youth in Ukraine during the war |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children and youth in Ukraine during the war |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children and youth in Ukraine during the war |
| title_short | Evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children and youth in Ukraine during the war |
| title_sort | evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of trauma focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children and youth in ukraine during the war |
| topic | children trauma-focused treatment Ukraine war PTSD |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933825100321/type/journal_article |
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