Culturally Adapted, Low-Threshold Psychoeducational Intervention for Asylum Seekers (LoPe-study): Results of a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Weise C, Herbstreit R, Kip A, Semmlinger V, Al Sari S, Grupp F, Johow J, Ehring T, Morina N, Stangier U, Schade-Brittinger C, Mewes R (2025)
Publication Type: Conference contribution, Abstract of a poster
Publication year: 2025
Event location: Wien
Abstract
Background: According to the UN Global Trends Report, over 117 million individuals globally were displaced in 2023 due to violence, conflict, war, or political persecution. Refugees frequently suffer from mental health issues. The lengthy asylum process and discrimination can exacerbate these conditions, even after arriving in safe countries. Additionally, language barriers, the fear of stigma, and a lack of information hinder access to psychotherapy.
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the efficacy of a culturally-sensitive, low-threshold psychoeducation program, "Teagarden," on enhancing mental health awareness and promoting psychotherapy utilization.
Method: Conducted across four locations, the study included 170 asylum seekers from diverse countries who had recently settled in Germany. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention (IG, n=87) or a waitlist group (WL, n=83). The IG immediately began the intervention, consisting of two 90-minute group sessions, while the WL participated two months later. Assessments took place at pre- and post-intervention, and 2- and 6-month follow-ups, measuring mental health knowledge, openness to psychotherapy, and psychological distress (GHQ).
Results: IG-participants experienced significantly greater gains in mental health knowledge and reductions in psychological distress compared to the WL at post-intervention. No significant difference was found regarding openness to psychotherapy. After the WL had completed the intervention, both groups showed similar levels of knowledge improvement.
Conclusion: The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the "Teagarden" intervention in increasing understanding of mental health disorders and treatment. The identified reduction in psychological distress supports the potential for brief, accessible interventions to improve the well-being of asylum seekers.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität (WWU) Münster
Germany (DE)
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
Germany (DE)
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Germany (DE)
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU)
Germany (DE)
Universität Wien / University of Vienna
Austria (AT)
Université de Strasbourg (UDS)
France (FR)
Germany (DE)
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
Germany (DE)
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Germany (DE)
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU)
Germany (DE)
Universität Wien / University of Vienna
Austria (AT)
Université de Strasbourg (UDS)
France (FR)
How to cite
APA:
Weise, C., Herbstreit, R., Kip, A., Semmlinger, V., Al Sari, S., Grupp, F.,... Mewes, R. (2025, August). Culturally Adapted, Low-Threshold Psychoeducational Intervention for Asylum Seekers (LoPe-study): Results of a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Poster presentation at 18. International Congress of Behavioral Medicine (ICBM 2025), Wien, AT.
MLA:
Weise, Cornelia, et al. "Culturally Adapted, Low-Threshold Psychoeducational Intervention for Asylum Seekers (LoPe-study): Results of a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial." Presented at 18. International Congress of Behavioral Medicine (ICBM 2025), Wien 2025.
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