Empowering Narratives

Summary

Background: The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in forced displacement, with over 80,000 Ukrainian refugees now residing in Norway. This displacement has led to increased vulnerability to trauma and mental health challenges. Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), a short-term trauma-focused intervention, has demonstrated efficacy in reducing PTSD symptoms among individuals exposed to organized violence and war.

Aim: The protocol aims to assess the clinical effects of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) on PTSD and depression symptoms among Ukrainian refugees in Norway and to facilitate training and supervised practice for Ukrainian health professionals and workers in using NET.

Methods: This study employs a pretest-posttest randomized controlled experimental design. Ukrainian health professionals and workers in Norway will receive standardized NET training through a digital course. Subsequently, they will treat Ukrainian refugees using NET under supervision. Participants will be screened and assessed at three time points: baseline, immediately after treatment, and at 6-month follow-up. Validated questionnaires in Ukrainian and Russian will be used: PHQ-9, ITQ, LEC-5, SHUT-D, and demographic questionnaire. Exclusion criteria include active psychotic spectrum disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders and concurrent trauma therapy.

Conditions

• PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Depression Disorders
• Dissociation
• Refugee

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Narrative Exposure Therapy

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) is a short-term, trauma-focused intervention developed for individuals exposed to multiple traumatic events, including refugees and survivors of war and organized violence. It is grounded in principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy and testimonial therapy. NET helps adults reconstruct a coherent narrative of their life by integrating fragmented traumatic memories through structured exposure within a chronological autobiographical framework. Core components include lifeline construction, imaginal exposure to traumatic events, and reprocessing of emotional responses. The method emphasizes stabilization through therapeutic structure and is supported by evidence from randomized controlled trials showing reductions in PTSD symptoms. The approach is protocol-driven and applicable in low-resource settings under supervision, as outlined in the practice document.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Konstanz

  collaborator OTHER

• Oswaldo Cruz Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• Mental helse

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Vårsta Diakoni

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Norsk-Ukrainsk hjelpeorganisasjon

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• The Dam Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• Kristiania University College

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Vanessa Nolasco Ferreira, Associate Professor, PhD · Kristiania University of Applied Sciences

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-03-01

Primary Completion

2025-12-20

Completion

2026-04-20

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations