Third-party-funded projects
at the Chair of Clinical and Biological Psychology
BETTER CARE - Improving psychotherapeutic care for unaccompanied refugees through consecutive care approaches
The BETTER CARE research project is concerned with the evaluation of a consecutive care approach for unaccompanied young refugees (UYR). In a randomized procedure, participating youth welfare facilities are assigned to the consecutive care approach (BETTER CARE) or to usual care. UYR in both care programs are repeatedly interviewed over 12 months about their current stress. BETTER CARE includes evidence-based trauma-focused behavioral therapy for clinically relevant stress symptoms and a preventive group program for mild to moderate stress symptoms. Furthermore, health economic aspects as well as questions on the situation of UYR in youth welfare, in health projects and on social participation will be investigated.
Start of the project: February 2019
Project Homepage: BetterCare
Supported by: BMBF, Federal Ministry of Education and Research Link zum BMBF
Further information on the research project under KU.fordoc
Contact: Dr. Johanna Unterhitzenberger, M.Sc. Lauritz Müller, M.Sc. JonathanThielemann
BESTFORCAN – Bringing empirically supported treatments to children and adolescents after child abuse and neglect
The BESTFORCAN research project aims to disseminate empirically evaluated treatment methods that have been confirmed as effective among psychotherapists in practice and to evaluate their implementation. Specifically, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children and adolescents (Tf-CBT), which has proven to be effective in various studies, is to be disseminated among psychotherapists in private practice and those in training through training courses and, in some cases, subsequently supervised.
The therapy is primarily aimed at abused and neglected children and adolescents who have developed post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of these traumatic experiences. The sub-project based in Eichstätt is particularly concerned with the influence of supervision by comparing standard supervision and trauma-specific supervision. The aim of the research project is to improve the psychotherapeutic care of abused and neglected children and adolescents by disseminating an empirically supported manual. At the same time, the acceptance and effectiveness of online training and supervision in teaching a new therapy manual will be evaluated.
Start of the project:: May 2019
Project Homepage: Bestforcan
Supported by: BMBF, Federal Ministry of Education and Research Link zum BMBF
Further information on the research project under KU.fordoc
Contact: PD Dr. Antonia Barke, M.Sc. Katharina Goßmann
PROGRID - Therapy of prolonged grief disorder
Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is now recognized as an independent mental disorder that can be distinguished from major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as other stress-related disorders - inclusion in the next edition of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) is planned. The main symptoms of PGD are an intense longing for or preoccupation with the deceased, feelings of shock and bitterness, difficulties in accepting the loss, avoidance of memories of the loss and emotional numbness, as well as an impaired sense of identity and interpersonal problems, e.g. difficulties in trusting others. The PROGRID (prolonged grief disorder) research project is concerned with the treatment of PGD. In a randomized controlled design, the effectiveness of two different treatment methods is being compared at four outpatient treatment centers. In so-called grief-focused therapy (integrative cognitive behavior therapy for prolonged grief; PG-CBT; Pfoh, Kotoucová & Rosner, 2015), the focus of the treatment is on the grief itself. In so-called present-centered therapy (PCT; Schnurr et al., 2003), the treatment focuses on the everyday difficulties caused by the grief.
Start of the project: April 2017
Project Homepage: www.trauer-therapie.de
Supported by: DFG, German Reserach Foundation Link zur DFG
Flyer: click here to download
Further information on the research project under KU.fordoc
Contact: Dipl.-Psych. Anna Vogel, M.Sc. Katharina Betz
CAYPVAR - Covid apps for young refugees to prevent infection and promote vaccination readiness
The CAYPVAR research project aims to clarify widespread misconceptions about COVID-19, convey relevant information in an age-appropriate and culturally sensitive way and use appropriate channels by creating serious games to achieve learning objectives through a phase II-analogue randomized, two-arm open prevention study. The target population is young refugees living in shared accommodation. As an incentive to participate in the study, (almost) unlimited internet access will be provided. Knowledge about COVID-19 and behavioral intentions are recorded as study endpoints. Vaccination readiness is an additional study endpoint. A randomized half of the participants will also receive advice on individual behavioral planning for the implementation and maintenance of preventive behaviors in the respective institutional and/or social environment. By comparing an innovative way of conveying information and initiating intentions to act (through gamification via smartphones) alone or in combination with an individualized intervention for action planning and maintenance, this study can provide new insights into the effectiveness of prevention concepts beyond the population group focused on here.
Start of the project: May 2021
Supported by: DFG, German Research Foundation
Further information on the research project under KU.fordoc
Contact: M.Sc. Leonie Bücheler, M.Sc. Dilan Sipar
TF-KVT-Web – Online training for therapists in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children and adolescents
The aim of this project is to create a German version of the US-American internet-based learning program for trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (tf-CBT web). To this end, the content of the original US version will be translated and supplemented by a section relating to work with young refugees. The learning program will later be made available free of charge to therapists who wish to carry out their own therapies with TF-CBT and thus contribute to the dissemination of evidence-based methods.
Start of the project: 2016
Project Homepage: TF-KVT
Supported by: Zentrum für Flucht und Migration der Katholischen Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Further information on the research project under KU.fordoc
“Developmentally adapted cognitive therapy for adolescents and young adults with post-traumatic stress disorder following physical and sexual abuse - E-KVT”
Sexual and/or physical abuse in childhood and adolescence can lead to the development of a variety of psychological disorders and problems. There is a high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, although it is known that this disorder has particularly severe health consequences, there are few evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions for adolescents and young adults with PTSD following sexual and/or physical abuse. The aim of the E-KVT project is to evaluate a therapy manual specifically designed for the treatment of adolescents and young adults. This manual is based on Cognitive Processing Therapy - a therapeutic approach that has already been shown to be effective for adults. It also integrates elements of emotion and behavior management training as well as dealing with developmental tasks typical for this age group. The newly developed E-KVT, which is based on proven methods, was successfully tested in a pilot study. Almost all participating patients improved. In addition to testing this therapeutic approach, various other aspects are also being investigated in the multicenter study, such as neuronal correlates of PTSD, epigenetic markers, etc. Prof. Rita Rosner at the KU is the central study leader.
Duration of the project: until 2015
Project Homepage: traumatherapie-jugendliche
Supported by: BMBF, Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Further information on the research project under KU.fordoc
Contact: Dipl.-Psych. Rima Eberle-Sejari; Dipl.-Psych. Anna Vogel