Depression: Online Therapy in Arabic

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001.In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

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People with depression often have to wait far too long for therapy. This is all the more true for migrants. They are mostly dependent on therapists who speak their language.

At least for patients with mild to moderate forms of depression, there is now a bridging aid: the therapeutic program iFightDepression, which was originally developed for German-speaking patients, is available in twelve languages ​​- and recently also in Arabic.

"We want to improve the supply situation and especially help patients who would otherwise not receive any support," explains Prof. Ulrich Hegerl from the German Depression Aid Foundation, under whose direction the program was co-developed.

Adapted to cultural peculiarities

The developers not only translated the German-language program one-to-one, but also adapted it to the special cultural characteristics of the Arab culture: "The clinical picture of depression is different there," explains Weam Jalbout, member of the expert committee and assistant doctor in the Transcultural Institute outpatient clinic LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf.

Symptoms of depression that are typical of Europeans, such as disinterest and lack of drive, would be expressed differently in the Arabic-speaking world. “It is more physical symptoms such as impairment of sleep, energy and physical well-being felt.” The patients experienced and describe this primarily as “great exhaustion”.

Problems stay in the family

It is also taken into account that in the Arab culture personal feelings and problems are revealed almost exclusively within the family.

In addition, users receive tips on how to deal with the German health system and learn which points of contact are available for people with mental health problems.

Cognitive behavior therapy as an online program

The program is based on the methods of cognitive behavioral therapy. The method has proven to be particularly suitable for the treatment of depression. Those affected learn, among other things, to better perceive and control feelings, to recognize negative thoughts, to change them and to break through them. But also practical topics like getting things done, sleeping better, strengthening social contacts and developing a healthier lifestyle are part of the program.

You can do it yourself, but online psychotherapeutic programs are particularly effective if they are carried out under the supervision of an expert.

Such digital aids are unsuitable for patients with severe depression. "It would be fatal to believe that an online self-management program would then be sufficient treatment," explains Hegerl.

Free of charge in twelve languages

In addition to German and Arabic, the iFightDepression tool can also be used in English, Italian, Estonian, Hungarian, Greek, Norwegian, Spanish, Catalan, Basque and Shqip (Albanian). Therapists, doctors or professionally trained refugee helpers can invite their patients to use iFightDepression after they have completed a CME-certified free online training course. The iFightDepression program is free of charge.

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