Efficacy of a Low-threshold, Cultural Sensitive Group Psychoeducation in Asylum Seekers –
A Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial
The high prevalence of mental impairment and disorders in refugees calls for the
development of effective interventions tailored to the specific needs of this population. Within
this framework, LoPe aims to evaluate a psycho-education intervention (“Health Tea
Garden”) for refugees who have only recently arrived in Germany. This intervention has been
developed in a previous study (Demir, Reich, & Mewes, 2016; Mewes, Reich, & Demir,
2015).
The „Health Tea Garden (HTG)” has three objectives: (1) an increase of the refugees’
knowledge of mental disorders and psychotherapeutic/psychiatric treatment; (2) a reduction
of stigma associated with mental disorders and an increase of openness to
psychotherapeutic/psychiatric treatment; (3) strengthening of mental resources and a first
alleviation from existing mental symptoms and disorders.
The study will be conducted as a randomised controlled multi-centre trial at four sites
(Marburg, Frankfurt, München, Münster). One hundred and sixty-six psychologically troubled
adult refugees, who have been in Germany for a maximum of 18 months, are to be included
in the study. The participants will then be randomly assigned to the intervention group (HTG)
or a waiting control group (HTG after 3 months)
The Health Tea Garden is manualised and will be conducted as a group intervention
consisting of two 90-minute sessions within two weeks led by trained clinical psychologists. It
is culturally sensitive, independent of the participants’ educational background, and, assisted
by interpreters, is offered in different languages.
To evaluate the Health Tea Garden compared to the waiting control group and to assess its
medium-term effects on mental health, psychological strain and knowledge about mental
disorders are measured directly before and after the Health Tea Garden. Further
measurements are conducted two months and – in the case of the intervention group – six
months later.
