The Lux4UA project aims to support mental health treatment in Ukraine, especially for those who have experienced traumatic events due to the ongoing conflict and forced displacement. As rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) rise among civilians, military personnel, and refugees, the need for effective trauma care becomes urgent. PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing trauma, leading to flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and other symptoms that significantly impact daily life. This project introduces an innovative method called the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) Protocol, which helps individuals reduce distressing memories and trauma-related symptoms. Unlike traditional therapies, the RTM Protocol aims to quickly alleviate PTSD symptoms without requiring patients to relive or discuss in detail their traumatic experiences, which can sometimes be overwhelming. Instead, it employs carefully guided imaginary exercises to help patients reprocess and feel less emotional distress when recalling traumatic memories. This structured approach can lead to significant improvements in just three to five sessions. The Lux4UA project brings together mental health professionals and researchers from Ukraine, Luxembourg, and the United States to test how well this treatment works in Ukraine and to understand if it can be easily integrated into the country's mental health system. By studying the RTM Protocol in three main settings-hospital care and outpatient (walk-in) clinics for veterans and therapy practices for civilians-the project will assess the treatment's effectiveness for people with different needs and backgrounds. It will also evaluate how comfortable and satisfied both mental health practitioners and patients are with the treatment. A key part of the project is training Ukrainian mental health professionals in the RTM Protocol. This training ensures that local mental health professionals are well-prepared to deliver the treatment and support trauma survivors long after the project ends, building a sustainable mental health system in Ukraine. The project will involve careful monitoring of how patients respond to the treatment, paying special attention to their well-being throughout each session. To evaluate the treatment's success, the project will measure changes in PTSD symptoms, as well as signs of anxiety and depression that often accompany trauma. The project will also assess the RTM Protocol's adaptability to Ukrainian needs, seeing if any modifications are necessary to better suit the local context.
The Lux4UA Project aims to strengthen Ukraine's capacity to deliver and research innovative, evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the context of ongoing war, displacement, and humanitarian crisis. The project evaluates the effectiveness and feasibility of the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) Protocol - a short-term, neurobiologically grounded intervention that reduces trauma-related symptoms without requiring patients to retell their traumatic experiences in detail. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to a steep rise in PTSD prevalence. Recent studies show that 30-50% of civilians, 55% of internally displaced persons, and over 60% of refugees present with PTSD symptoms, while combat-related PTSD among military personnel is widespread. The Ukrainian mental health system, although reforming toward community-based care, lacks sufficient evidence-based tools to address this unprecedented demand. Traditional trauma therapies such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT), exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are recommended by international guidelines and effective in many settings. However, they require lengthy treatment, demand that patients retell traumatic events, and often show high dropout rates (up to 30%). In contrast, RTM Protocol has demonstrated rapid and lasting reductions in PTSD symptoms, often in three to five sessions, with low dropout rates. Randomized controlled trials in the USA and UK report diagnostic remission in 70-88% of veterans treated, with sustained results up to a year post-treatment. These features make RTM Protocol particularly promising for conflict-affected populations where resources are limited and stigma or retraumatization hinder treatment. A cornerstone of the project is training 20 Ukrainian mental health professionals in the delivery of the RTM Protocol. Training is conducted by Quresta Inc. (USA) in collaboration with the University of Luxembourg, followed by biweekly supervision and accreditation. This ensures both fidelity to the protocol and sustainability. Trained professionals will continue applying RTM beyond the project, potentially treating many trauma survivors in the years ahead. Data will be collected, pseudonymized in Ukraine by implementing partners - the Centre of Mental Health and Rehabilitation "Forest Glade" of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (RCFG) and the National Psychological Association of Ukraine (NPAU), and transferred in fully anonymized, aggregated form to the University of Luxembourg for analysis. Findings will inform humanitarian response policy and sustainable capacity-building for evidence-based PTSD treatment in low-resource, conflict settings. The RTM Protocol effectiveness study implies a randomized field trial with parallel group design, adhering to CONSORT standards, comparing RTM with treatment-as-usual (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), or pharmacotherapy) across three customary clinical settings in Ukraine (hospital in-patient, hospital out-patient, private psychotherapy). The primary outcome is the loss of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnosis or change in symptoms; secondary outcomes include depression and anxiety at post-treatment, 6-month and 12-month follow-up. Objective 1: To compare the effectiveness of the RTM Protocol for the treatment of trauma-related mental conditions with other evidence-based trauma-focused therapies (TF-CBT, EMDR and medication). Objective 2: To investigate the effectiveness of the RTM Protocol for the treatment of trauma-related mental conditions in different settings of mental health (MH) care (in-patient and out-patient hospital care for veterans and private psychotherapy for civilians) The RTM Protocol and Training feasibility study will evaluate the RTM Protocol's acceptability and adaptability during training and practice through case statistics, satisfaction surveys of MH practitioners and clients, and focus-group interviews with MH practitioners. Objective 1: To analyze the acceptability of the RTM Protocol among MH professionals and persons with trauma-related MH conditions. Objective 2: To analyze the adaptability (Usability of the Ukrainian language versions) of the RTM Protocol. The project addresses ethical issues at every stage: Professional eligibility: Only licensed clinicians with a minimum of three years' experience in trauma care will be considered for training. Informed consent: All participants (both clinicians and patients) will provide written informed consent. Data protection: Data are anonymized, stored securely, and processed according to EU GDPR and Ukrainian legislation. Patient safety: Clear procedures are in place for managing distress, adverse events, and unexpected findings. Participants may withdraw from or switch to a different treatment at any time. The Lux4UA project spans 36 months and is structured into four work packages: 1. Project Management and Administration - research protocol development, ethics approval, data management, and coordination. 2. RTM Training and Supervision - recruitment and training of professionals, ongoing supervision and certification. 3. RTM Protocol Effectiveness and Feasibility Evaluation - recruitment of 120 patients, intervention delivery, data collection, and analysis. 4. Dissemination and Communication - publication of findings, conference presentations, and policy recommendations. By combining research, training, and system integration, the Lux4UA project will not only provide and explore trauma treatment but also lay the foundation for a sustainable, evidence-based mental health infrastructure in Ukraine.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
120
The protocol as a structured, mandatory-to-administrate 89-step procedure consists of three main phases: Pre-treatment, Treatment, and Retelling of the Trauma Event. Aside from establishing therapeutic rapport and framing the work, one of the key tasks in the Pre-treatment phase is the Visual Formats Practice. This involves specially organised exercises that help a person engage in imaginative activities with neutral events, preparing them to do similar work addressing trauma in the subsequent steps. The Treatment phase implies leading a person through three types of Visual Formats, specific techniques used to help clients visualise the trauma story in a way that minimises the distress of recalling. The Retelling of the Trauma Event phase intersperses with Visual Formats and serves to assess of so-called subjective distress throughout persons' retelling of traumatic events.
TF-CBT is designed to help individuals process and recover from traumatic experiences by integrating trauma-sensitive strategies with cognitive-behavioral techniques. It combines psychoeducation, relaxation strategies, emotional regulation, cognitive restructuring, and the development of a trauma narrative to reduce symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
EMDR is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences by using bilateral stimulation, typically guided eye movements, while recalling distressing memories. EMDR does not require detailed discussion of the trauma or homework between sessions.
Paroxetine and Sertraline, both SSRIs, are distinguished in PTSD treatment by their strong evidence base and official FDA approval specifically for this condition. They effectively target core PTSD symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, hyperarousal, and emotional numbing by enhancing serotonin regulation. Compared to other pharmacological options, SSRIs offer superior safety, tolerability, and dosing flexibility, making them suitable for long-term use.
National Psychological Association of Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine
RECRUITINGVeteran Mental Health and Rehabilitation Center 'Forest Glade' Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine
RECRUITINGPTSD symptoms according to the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure with scores ranging from 0 to 80, with each item rated on a scale from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Extremely). Higher scores indicate worse outcomes, reflecting greater severity of PTSD symptoms, while lower scores suggest fewer or less severe symptoms.
Time frame: Data collection will occur at baseline, 1 month after complete treatment application, in 6 months, and in 12 months.
Anxiety-related symptoms according to the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
The GAD-7 is a 7-item self-report measure of anxiety severity, with scores ranging from 0 to 21, where each item is rated from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day). Higher scores indicate worse outcomes, reflecting greater severity of anxiety symptoms, while lower scores suggest fewer or less severe symptoms.
Time frame: Data collection will occur at baseline, 1 month after complete treatment application, in 6 months, and in 12 months.
Depression-related symptoms according to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
The PHQ-9 is a 9-item self-report measure of depression severity, with scores ranging from 0 to 27, where each item is rated from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day). Higher scores indicate worse outcomes, reflecting greater severity of depressive symptoms, while lower scores suggest fewer or less severe symptoms.
Time frame: Data collection will occur at baseline, 1 month after complete treatment application, in 6 months, and in 12 months.
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