Clinical Round Table 21 - Training Ukrainian Practitioners in CBT Approaches: How Can CBT and DBT Help Youth and Practitioners Cope with War-related Distress?

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24,2022 and the resulting war is associated with many casualties as well as a humanitarian crisis propelled by Russian atrocities. Many Ukrainian youth are exposed to ongoing unpredictable violence. Preliminary data show increased rates of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. A recent report indicates that nearly 45% of Ukrainian youth show signs of PTSD marked by concentration difficulties, vegetative symptoms, loneliness, and emotional dysregulation. Based on data from the PSC-17, internalizing disorders represent the highest rising case rates. These debilitating conditions need to be treated in real-time amid continuing hostilities. Naturally, behavioral health resources are strained, and clinicians are also experiencing these stressors. This clinical roundtable provides a robust discussion of various topics relevant to training clinicians during wartime which blends perspectives and experiences from experts in cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, psychiatry, and training/supervision. Central to this discussion is the inclusion of a Ukrainian psychiatrist who is actively engaged in treating patients and training providers amid the ongoing invasion. The goals of this roundtable are highlighting the historical and cultural context of the war, underscoring the value of CBT/DBT for ameliorating war-related distress, and identifying training dilemmas. The four-part CBT and four-part DBT training sequence will be described. All these topics will be considered with an emphasis on wartime application and intolerance of uncertainty. Panelists will focus their discussion around 5 major questions including 1) How does history and cultural context influence youth’s psychological reactions? 2) In what ways are young people’s lives disrupted on a daily basis? 3) How can DBT/CBT mitigate the impact of war-related stressors? and 4) What are the major challenges for training? This roundtable aligns with ABCT’s mission and goals by fostering innovation in CBT with culturally alert service and training for a vulnerable population, serving diverse marginalized youth, and advocating for social justice and equity.