Online workshops on interpersonal psychotherapy for Ukrainian mental health professionals as part of the consortium project "Solomiya"
Through the “Interpersonal Psychotherapy” project, TU Dresden contributes to the overarching consortium project "Solomiya", which aims to support healthcare in Ukraine.
Project Leads:
Prof. Dr. Anna-Lena Zietlow, Chair of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, TU Dresden
Prof. Dr. Eva-Lotta Brakemeier, Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald
Contacts in Dresden:
Project Lead: Prof. Dr. Anna-Lena Zietlow: anna-lena.zietlow@tu-dresden.de
Project Coordinator: M.Sc. Luna Grosselli: luna.grosselli@tu-dresden.de
Objectives:
The goal of the project is to offer online training to Ukrainian psychotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other professional helpers. Participants will acquire knowledge and skills helpful to support the Ukrainian population during wartime. The workshops focus on therapeutic techniques that are particularly useful in managing crises, changes, trauma, and loss (specifically Interpersonal Psychotherapy for adults, adolescents, and families). Materials will be provided on an e-learning platform, and participants will also have the opportunity to receive supervision for their own cases.
Background:
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Ukrainian population has lived under constant uncertainty and threat. The psychological consequences are severe, and healthcare provision in the country is significantly impacted by war (e.g., the bombing of healthcare facilities, issues with the electricity supply) (Khrushch et al., 2023). To support the Ukrainian people, the Solomiya (“Peace”) network was established in February 2022. To date, 39 Ukrainian institutions and five German healthcare facilities, led by Charité Berlin, collaborate to strengthen healthcare in Ukraine in the fields of mental health, emergency medicine, and traumatology. The project promotes emergency and psychosocial support services, offering them online to reach even more patients.
Two delegation trips by the “Interpersonal Psychotherapy” working group as part of the Solomiya project in May 2024 to the Chernihiv region and the city of Drohobych provided valuable insights into the specific needs for psychotherapeutic support in these war-affected areas. There is a clear need for evidence-based, short, and effective therapeutic approaches tailored to the challenges of war.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is an evidence-based short-term therapy applied worldwide, particularly for depressive disorders, but also for trauma-related conditions, and other mental disorders (Bernecker et al., 2017). IPT has also been adapted for adolescents (IPT-A; Mufson et al., 1994) and for children aged 8 to 12 and their families (family-based/FB-IPT; Dietz, 2020). With its short duration and focus on processing (unwanted) changes and building social support networks, IPT offers a valuable approach to addressing war-related mental health challenges.
Study Design:
TU Dresden and the University of Greifswald offer online workshops and supervision sessions on IPT, IPT-A, and FB-IPT for professional helpers in Ukraine to impart knowledge and skills for suitable interventions for the Ukrainian population.
From July to October 2024, online workshops and supervision sessions on IPT were conducted by the University of Greifswald. From November 2024 to March 2025, workshops on IPT-A and FB-IPT are planned, organized by the Chair of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology at TU Dresden. The workshops will be evaluated for participant satisfaction, knowledge acquisition, and skill development. The quality of the resulting IPT therapies will be monitored through supervision. Topics for possible future workshops will be coordinated with participants (e.g., other trauma-specific psychotherapy methods).
Funding:
This project is part of the "Hospital Partnerships" funding program, which is implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-financed by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS).
Project Duration: 09/2023 – 03/2025
Further Information on the Consortium Project Solomiya:
Press release from Charité Berlin
Project description from the Hospital Partnerships funding program
References:
Bernecker, S. L., Coyne, A. E., Constantino, M. J., & Ravitz, P. (2017). For whom does interpersonal psychotherapy work? A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 56, 82-93.
Dietz, L. J. (2020). Family-based interpersonal psychotherapy: an intervention for preadolescent depression. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 73(1), 22-28.
Khrushch, O., Moskalets, V., Fedyk, O., Karpiuk, Y., Hasiuk, M., Ivantsev, N., ... & Aijjumend, H. (2023). Environmental and psychological effects of Russian war in Ukraine. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 6(1), 37-84.
Mufson, L., Moreau, D., Weissman, M. M., Wickramaratne, P., Martin, J., & Samoilov, A. (1994). Modification of interpersonal psychotherapy with depressed adolescents (IPT-A): Phase I and II studies. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(5), 695-705.