Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2025

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Internet-based transdiagnostic treatment for emotional disorders in Arabic- and Farsi-speaking refugees: study
Johanna Boettcher1,2, Manuel Heinrich3, Maria Boettche3
1Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Germany. johanna.boettcher@fu-berlin.de.
Background:
Refugee populations have an increased risk for mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorders. Comorbidity is common. At the same time, refugees face multiple barriers to accessing mental health treatment. Only a minority of them receive adequate help. The planned trial evaluates a low-threshold, transdiagnostic Internet-based treatment. The trial aims at establishing its efficacy and cost-effectiveness compared with no treatment.
Methods:
N = 131 treatment-seeking Arabic- or Farsi-speaking patients, meeting diagnostic criteria for a depressive, anxiety, and/or posttraumatic stress disorder will be randomized to either the intervention or the waitlist control group. The intervention group receives an Internet-based treatment with weekly written guidance provided by Arabic- or Farsi-speaking professionals. The treatment is based on the Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), is tailored to the individual patient, and takes 6-16 weeks. The control group will wait for 3 months and then receive the Internet-based treatment.
Discussion:
The planned trial will result in an estimate of the efficacy of a low-threshold and scalable treatment option for the most common mental disorders in refugees.
Trial Registration:
German Registry for Clinical Trials DRKS00024154. Registered on February 1, 2021.
Related Concept Videos
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Cognitive Therapy
Behavior Therapy
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...

