Fostering Ukraine's Capacity in the Delivery and Research of Innovative Evidence-based PTSD Treatment

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.