SP2: Developing a transdiagnostic (online-) intervention for refugees in Germany

Subproject SP2 focuses on the cultural and contextual adaptation of a treatment program addressing the needs of emotionally burdened refugees in Germany, both online and in a face-to-face therapy setting. By this means a significant gap in the German health care system is to be closed. As a first step, the so-called „Common Elements Treatment Approach“ (CETA) is linguistically and culturally adapted to the target group of Arabic-speaking refugees. As a transdiagnostic treatment method, CETA is not limited to a specific disorder, but addresses a number of psychological problems that are widespread in refugees. Next, an Internet-based equivalent of the culturally adapted CETA intervention will be developed: the „ALMAMAR“-app. Through regular cooperation with refugees, therapists and other relevant stakeholders, cultural and other barriers are identified and resolved during development, resulting in a successive improvement of the App’s usability and acceptance.  

In another subproject of the I-Reach consortium the effectiveness and acceptance of the Internet-based program will be compared with the face-to-face variant of CETA (SP3). Moreover, the suitability of the ALMAMAR-app as a supplementary treatment for refugees in an inpatient setting (i.e. blended care) will be investigated (SP4).