Center for Psychotraumatology

About

The Center for Psychotraumatology led by prof. E. Kazlauskas at Vilnius University is conducting multidisciplinary research in the field of psychotraumatology and disseminates evidence-based trauma-informed care knowledge to society. The team at the Center has expertise in research of resilience and risk factors of the trauma- and stress-related disorders, development and implementation of psychosocial interventions for stress-related disorders. The Center has a wide network of collaborators nationally and internationally.

Mission
Acknowledgment of the effects of trauma and stress on individuals and society by providing evidence-based knowledge for the advancement of trauma-informed care.

Vision
The leading psychotraumatology excellence center in the region.

Contacts
M. K. Ciurlionio str. 29
Center for Psychotraumatology
Vilnius University
Vilnius, Lithuania
E-mail:
Phone: +370 5 268 6952
www.ptc.fsf.vu.lt (Lithuanian version)

Annual reports of Center for Psychotraumatology: Annual report 2018, Annual report 2019.

Team

Core researchers

	Evaldas Kazlauskas, PhD, Prof., Team Leader Center for Psychotraumatology is led by a professor of clinical psychology and psychotraumatology Evaldas Kazlauskas, who is the leading expert of trauma- and stress-related disorders in Lithuania and the region. Prof. Kazlauskas has been involved in psychotraumatology research and clinical practice since 2000. He is a board member of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, and President of the Lithuanian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
	Paulina Želvienė, PhD, Senior Researcher, Research group leader Paulina Zelviene is a clinical psychologist and is one of the core members of the growing team at the center. Her scientific achievements have been acknowledged by the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. Paulina Zelviene is a vice-president of Lithuanian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (LSTSS), president of EMDR Lithuania Association and a member of EMDR Europe research committee. Her scientific interests are psychotraumatology, evidence-based treatment, stress and resilience in adolescence.
	Inga Truskauskaitė-Kunevičienė, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow Inga Truskauskaitė-Kunevičienė, Ph.D., is a developmental psychologist, a post-doctoral research fellow and the leader of BOOM-LT project at the Center for Psychotraumatology. Her research interests include adolescents and youth development, positive mental health, identity, and stress. She is experienced in intervention development, implementation, and evaluation, including face-to-face and internet-based interventions for the promotion of positive developmental and mental health outcomes.
	Neringa Grigutytė, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Neringa Grigutytė, Ph.D, Associate Professor, is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. Neringa Grigutytė is the leader of POLSTRES project at the Center for Psychotraumatology. Her research interests are in the field of clinical and trauma psychology, psychological assessment, child abuse and professional help system.
	Odeta Geležėlytė, PhD, Research Fellow Odeta Gelezelyte is a clinical psychologist. Her main research interests are in the field of complex trauma and suicidality. Odeta Gelezelyte is currently one of the main researchers in a study focused on exploring the impact of COVID-19 related crises on the wellbeing of the general population in Lithuania, that is a part of the pan-European project launched by ESTSS.
	Lina Jovarauskaitė, PhD, Research Fellow Dr. Lina Jovarauskaitė is a clinical psychologist. Her scientific interests cover stress and traumatic stress evaluation and management as well as stress related to climate change. Lina is one of the main researchers of STAMP project at the Center for Psychotraumatology.
	Ieva Daniūnaitė, PhD student Ieva Daniunaite – clinical psychologist, her field of professional expertise and research is trauma experience and its effects in childhood and adolescence, PTSD.
	Monika Kvedaraitė, PhD student Monika Kvedaraite is a clinical psychologist, PhD student at Vilnius University. Her main research interests are the assessment of trauma and stress-related disorders, including PTSD and CPTSD. Monika Kvedaraite is currently one of the main researchers in a study focused on exploring the impact of COVID-19 related crises on the wellbeing of the general population in Lithuania, which is a part of the pan-European project launched by ESTSS. Her doctoral dissertation study is focused on validating the International Trauma Interview in Lithuania. Monika Kvedaraite is a board member of Lithuanian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and is actively involved in the advisory role of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, in particular helping to plan and coordinate the national response to the COVID-19 crisis to mitigate negative effects of the pandemic on mental health.
	Austėja Dumarkaitė, PhD student Austėja Dumarkaitė is a clinical psychologist and PhD student at Institute of Psychology of Vilnius University. Her research interests are clinical psychology, psychotraumatology, and efficacy of internet-based interventions. Austėja Dumarkaitė is the main researcher in a study of mindfulness-based internet intervention Still Me efficacy.
	Agnietė Kairytė, Research assistant Agnietė Kairytė is a first-year Master’s student in Clinical psychology program at Vilnius University. Her main area of interest is complex posttraumatic stress.
	Augustė Nomeikaitė, Intern Augustė Nomeikaitė is a second-year Master’s student in Clinical psychology program at the Institute of Psychology of Vilnius University. Her areas of interest include clinical psychology, psychotraumatology, and suicidology. Augustė Nomeikaitė is an intern at the Center for Psychotraumatology. She is involved in the study of psychological well-being and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.
	Gabija Petrauskaitė, Intern Gabija Petrauskaitė is a second-year Master’s student in Clinical psychology program at the Institute of Psychology of Vilnius University. Her areas of interest include clinical psychology and psychotraumatology. Gabija Petrauskaitė is an intern at the Center for Psychotraumatology and is one of the researchers in the student stress and mental health project BOOM-LT.
	Julija Mingaudaitė, Intern Julija Mingaudaitė is a second-year Master’s student in Clinical psychology program at Vilnius University. She is interested in psychotraumatology and the efficacy of internet-based psychological interventions. She is an intern at the Center for Psychotraumatology and one of the researchers in the study of mindfulness-based internet intervention Still Me.

Adjunct researchers
Ieva Norkienė, M.D., PhD, Assoc. Prof.
Lina Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė, PhD, Assistant Professor
Ieva Biliūnaitė, PhD student
Daiva Gražulytė, M.D., PhD student

Students
Agnietė Kairytė
Arina Ivanova
Augustė Nomeikaitė
Austėja Jaruševičiūtė
Deimantas Zinkevičius
Emilija Zalieckaitė
Gabija Petrauskaitė
Giedrė Dautartaitė
Greta Raklevičiūtė
Ieva Dovidauskaitė-Bastienė
Irma Sabonytė
Julija Anužytė
Julija Mingaudaitė
Justa Kažukauskaitė
Jūratė Valackaitė
Karolina Kančiauskytė
Lina Juozapavičiūtė
Margarita Juodsnukytė
Milda Baronaitė
Nerilė Kopcikaitė
Rasa Jokubauskaitė
Rūta Ostreikaitė-Jurevičė
Sigita Tindžiulytė
Vitalija Rogovska

Past core team members
Jonas Eimontas, PhD

Former students

Jogilė Medeišienė (BSc, 2018)
Gintarė Korsakaitė (MSc, 2019)
Saulė Makutėnaitė (BSc, 2019)
Ieva Stonytė (MSc, 2020)
Gintarė Astrauskaitė (MSc, 2020)
Karolina Jocytė (MSc, 2020)
Lukas Juozapavičius (MSc, 2020)
Miglė Rudytė (MSc, 2020)
Rūta Budreckytė (MSc, 2020)
Vaiva Milašiūnaitė (MSc, 2020)

We invite students to join our group and get involved in our research activities.

Research

RESEARCH

The current research lines at the Center for Psychotraumatology are focused on online interventions for stress-related disorders, effects of abuse and trauma on children and youth, conducting an ICD-11 stress-related disorders studies, analyzes the role of somatic serious illness on stress responses and explores stress in professions exposed to high levels of stressors, such as medical staff or police.

RESEARCH GRANTS

Research grants

Center for Psychotraumatology has received external funding for its research activities over the recent years.

Research project ‘Psychosocial stress reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and research-based coping recommendations’ (2020). Funded by Research Council of Lithuania. Grant number P-COV-20-10, Budget 33,566 EUR.
Research project ‘Stress and resilience among adolescents and young adults: Cross-cultural study‘ (2020–2022). Bilateral Lithuanian – Japan research project co-funded by Research Council of Lithuania and Japan Research Foundation. Project partner Hiroshima University, Japan. Grant number S-LJB-20-2, Budget of the Lithuanian study part 78,174 EUR.
PostDoc research project ‘Positive mental health of young people and links with stress’. This research is funded by Vilnius university. PI Inga Truskauskaitė-Kunevičienė, PhD), scientific advisor prof. dr. E.Kazlauskas. Project budget is 45,000 Eur.
PostDoc research project ‘Effects of Childhood Trauma: Stress and Resilience (STAR-A) (2017–2019). This research is funded by the European Social Fund under the No 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-02-0096 “Development of Competences of Scientists, other Researchers and Students through Practical Research Activities” measure. (PI dr. P. Zelviene, scientific advisor prof. dr. E. Kazlauskas). Project budget 42,502 EUR.
PhD research project ‘Longitudinal study of stressors and stress-related disorders in adolescence’ (2018–2022). PhD student - I. Daniunaite, expected defense in October 2022. The project is funded with external funding by the Grant from the Research Council of Lithuania. Supervisor prof. dr. E. Kazlauskas.
Research project ‘Mediating effects of psychosocial factors on stress and trauma-related psychological after-effects in the context of social psychotraumatology’ (2015-2017). Funded by Research Council of Lithuania. Grant number MIP-006/2015 (PI dr. Evaldas Kazlauskas). Budget 87,759 EUR.
The research project ‘Effectiveness of Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD and comparison to internet-based intervention’ (2012–2014). Funded by Research Council of Lithuania. Grant number MIP-011/2012 (PI dr. Evaldas Kazlauskas). Budget 53,200 EUR.
Research project ‘Psychosocial factors of psychological well-being in the Context of Psychotraumatology’. (2012–2013). Funded by Research Council of Lithuania. Grant number SIN-01/2012 (PI dr. Evaldas Kazlauskas). Budget 40,480 EUR.
Research project ‘Ambulatory psychological assessment in psychotraumatology’ (2010–2011). Funded by Research Council of Lithuania. Grant number MIP-19/2010 (PI dr. Evaldas Kazlauskas). Budget 47,380 EUR.

ESTSS-COVID

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, people in Europe are exposed to self-isolation, quarantine, job loss, risk of contracting COVID-19, or grief of loved ones. Such a complex array of stressors may lead to psychological difficulties. Europe is concerned about the effects of the pandemic on well-being of the society.

In June, 2020, European Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) launched a study to investigate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across eleven European countries (Lithuania, Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden). The longitudinal online cohort study aims to explore psychosocial reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic across eleven European countries; examine the relationships between risk and resilience factors, stressors and symptoms of adjustment disorder during the pandemic; and investigate whether these relationships are moderated by coping behaviors.

Center for Psychotraumatology is conducting research in Lithuania.

More information about the study: www.estss.org.

Lithuanian website of the study: www.manosavijauta.lt.

Still Me, Mindfulness-based internet intervention for PTSD (2019-2023)

Still Me is an eight-week mindfulness-based internet intervention for students of Vilnius University who have experienced traumatic events during their lives and therefore have psychological difficulties.

Aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of Still Me intervention on reduction of PTSD and CPTSD symptoms.

Research team: Austėja Dumarkaitė, PhD candidate, Inga Truskauskaitė-Kunevičienė, PhD, Evaldas Kazlauskas, PhD, Prof., Gerhard Andersson, PhD, Prof.

The study is being conducted in collaboration with the Internet, health and clinical psychology research group at Linköping University, Sweden.

More information about the program in Lithuanian: www.stillme.lt.

LINGI, Internet intervention for informal caregivers (2019-2023)

LINGI is an eight-week cognitive behavior therapy-based internet intervention for informal caregivers who experience difficulties in taking care of their relatives.

Aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of LINGI internet intervention for caregiver burden.

Research team: Evaldas Kazlauskas, PhD, Prof., Gerhard Andersson, PhD, Prof., Robbert Sanderman, PhD, Prof., Inga Truskauskaitė-Kunevičienė, PhD, Austėja Dumarkaitė, PhD candidate, Ieva Biliūnaitė, PhD candidate.

The study is being conducted in collaboration with the Internet, health and clinical psychology research group from Linköping University, Sweden.

More information about the program in Lithuanian: www.slaugauartima.lt.

We are also conducting a survey to find out about difficulties that informal caregivers experience in their daily life.

More information about the survey in Lithuanian: www.slaugantiems.lt.

HACHI, PTSD Assessment in Young Children (2020-2022)

The aim of the research “Happy Childhood: recognition of stress in structured play (HACHI)” is to adapt the Odense Child Trauma Screening (OCTS) instrument, which is designed to evaluate the adverse experiences and their psychological effects for small children (4-8 years old), in Lithuania. There is a great need for the verified methods to evaluate trauma experiences and psychological health of pre-school and primary school children in Lithuania. The adaptation of OCTS will broaden the possibilities of Lithuanian researchers and clinicians.

The participants of the research: children (4-8 years old) and their parents.

The research is being implemented by the research team of the Center for Psychotraumatology: prof. Evaldas Kazlauskas, Ph.D. candidate Ieva Daniūnaitė, Ph.D. candidate Monika Kvedaraitė. The research is implemented in cooperation with prof. Ask Elklit and Sille Schandorph Løkkegaard, Ph.D. (University of Southern Denmark, National Center of Psychotraumatology, Denmark).

BOOM-LT, Bochum Optimism Study in Lithuania (2019-2021)

BOOM-LT is student stress and mental health study aimed at revealing:
- the difficulties that young adults face during their study years;
- the factors that are important for stress management and promotion of mental health in emerging adulthood.

The BOOM study was initiated by researchers from Germany and is being carried out in different countries worldwide from 2011. BOOM-LT is the first large-scale youth mental health study in Lithuania, implemented in collaboration with the research team from the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at Ruhr-Bochum University, Germany.

The longitudinal BOOM-LT study is being implemented by the research team from the Center for Psychotraumatology led by Inga Truskauskaitė-Kunevičienė, Ph.D. Other team members: Ph.D. candidate Austėja Dumarkaitė, master student Gabija Petrauskaitė, and bachelor students Rūta Ostreikaitė-Jurevičė and Greta Raklevičiūtė.

STAR-A, Stress and Resilience in Adolescence (2019-2022), STAR-A-JP in Japan (2020-2022)

The aim of the study is to explore the psychological well-being of adolescents and to analyze the effects of adverse experiences for psychological health, stress reactions, and resilience in adolescence. The participants of the study are 12-16 years old adolescents.

This longitudinal study is implemented in cooperation with international partners: Norwegian centre for violence and traumatic stress studies, Hiroshima University Psychology Department.

The longitudinal STAR-A study is being implemented by the research team from the Center for Psychotraumatology. The main researchers are prof. Evaldas Kazlauskas, Paulina Želvienė, Ph.D., Ph.D. candidate Ieva Daniūnaitė, Lina Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė, Ph.D., Inga Truskauskaitė-Kunevičienė, Ph.D. (from 2020).

T-REC, Complex PTSD Assessment and Risk Factors (2020-2024)

Over the past few decades psychotraumatology research has revealed that when people experience recurrent or extremely severe trauma (e.g., prolonged sexual abuse), psychological stress responses are more complex. The results of these studies led to the proposed diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), which was first included in the 11th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD11) in 2019.

The aim of this study is to validate a complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) diagnostic interview and to evaluate CPTSD risk factors. It is planned to interview 300 adults during the study. The project is carried out with the permission of the Vilnius University Ethics Committee of Psychological Research.

The study is led by prof. Evaldas Kazlauskas, dr. Odeta Geležėlytė and PhD student Monika Kvedaraitė. The study is being carried out in collaboration with researchers at Cardiff University (UK).

Posttraumatic Stress and Quality of Life after Heart Surgery (2018-2023)

ANDI-ON, Posttraumatic Stress and Cancer (2019-2021)

Prostate cancer is one of the dominant forms of cancer in the world. However, cancer screening programs are a rather controversial issue because they involve screening healthy people. Oftentimes, the health benefits of screening are being called into question or cause particularly strong stress. Therefore, preventive screening should assess possible the expected health benefits, various side effects, and perform other studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the screening method in smaller groups prior to initiating population-wide randomization programs.

This study aims to evaluate the physical and psychological health of people participating in an early cancer diagnosis program. The study will contribute to a better understanding of the difficulties faced by individuals participating in an early cancer diagnosis program, which would increase the effectiveness of these programs. The project is carried out with the permission of the Vilnius Regional Ethics Committee for Biomedical Research.

The study is being conducted in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (PhD student dr. A. Patašius, dr. G. Smailytė), prof. E.Kazlauskas, PhD student M. Kvedaraitė, PTC student-assistant researcher M.Rudytė.

POLSTRESS, PTSD and Resilience in Police (2019-2022)

The stress experienced by police officers is significantly different from that experienced by other professions in that they face death or situations where there is a real threat to life. It is widely acknowledged that working in the police is one of the most dangerous professions, and police officers are particularly often exposed to dangerous stressors. High stress can have a negative impact on officials' performance, motivation to perform their duties, and well-being and health.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the stress and psychological well-being, as well as the coping mechanisms of police officers. The study sample will consist of 500 participants divided into two groups: 1) future police officers (students) and 2) experienced police officers. The project is carried out with the permission of the Vilnius University Ethics Committee of Psychological Research.

The study is led by doc. dr. N.Grigutytė, prof. E.Kazlauskas, PhD student M.Kvedaraitė. The study is being conducted in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam, Nationaal Psychotrauma Centre, The Netherlands

MEDSTRESS, Occupational Stress and Coping of Healthcare Staff

Severe and chronic stressors experienced by healthcare workers are associated with an increased risk of mental difficulties, including depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances and fatigue, broken relationships, alcohol and drug addiction, marital dysfunction, early retirement, and suicide. Stress and tension experienced at work can have a negative impact on the psychological well-being, physical health, and performance of physicians. Long-term problems at work may encourage the use of non-adaptive or harmful stress-coping strategies (such as alcohol or medication). Moreover, traumatic stressors can lead to post-traumatic stress and other adjustment disorders.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the psychological well-being, proneness to depression, anxiety, stress, as well as coping mechanisms of medical staff and to perform a comparative study of the differences in the psychological well-being of medical staff in Lithuania and the United Kingdom. It is planned, that the study sample will consist of 300 medical staff. The project is carried out with the permission of the Vilnius University Ethics Committee of Psychological Research.

The study is led by prof. Evaldas Kazlauskas, doc. dr. Ieva Norkienė and PhD student Monika Kvedaraitė. The study is being carried out in collaboration with Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos and Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospital (UK).

PAST PROJECTS

BADI Brief Adjustment Disorder Intervention

Registration to BADI is suspended. We would like to thank everyone who used BADI and participated in BADI trials. Our research showed that BADI can effectively help to cope with stress. Please see our published papers for more information. For our latest research on internet interventions please see our website.

Please contact Center for Psychotraumatology at Vilnius University for further inquiries:

Collaboration

Active collaboration and communication with organizations working in the field of psychotraumatology is a priority for the Center for Psychotraumatology. Successful collaboration has led to joint research projects, publications, and development of trauma-informed care. The Center for Psychotraumatology is currently collaborating with institutions and researchers globally in many countries including, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA, etc. The Center for Psychotraumatology is open to new collaboration opportunities nationally and internationally. Please contact us for more information.

Current Core International Partners

Internet, health and clinical psychology research group, Linköping University, Sweden
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, University of Oslo
ARQ Nationaal Psychotrauma Centre, The Netherlands
Danish National Centre for Psychotraumatology, University of Southern Denmark
Division of Clinical Psychopathology and Intervention, University of Zurich, Switzerland
European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

Publications

We make our research articles available to those who are interested. Papers that are not available directly from our website, can be obtained from the staff of the Center for Psychotraumatology. Please contact us for articles and other questions via email: .

Recent publications

Gersons, B., Smid, G., Smit, A., Kazlauskas, E., & McFarlane, A. (2020). Can a ‘secondary disaster’ during and after the COVID-19 pandemic be mitigated? European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11, 1815283. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1815283

Truskauskaite-Kuneviciene, I., Brailovskaia, J. Kamite, Y., Petrauskaite, G. Margraf, J., & Kazlauskas, E. (2020). Does trauma shape identity? Exploring the links between lifetime trauma exposure and identity status in emerging adulthood. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 576044. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.570644

Zelviene, P., Daniunaite, I., Hafstad, G.S., Thoresen, S., Truskauskaite-Kuneviciene, I., & Kazlauskas, E. (2020). Patterns of abuse exposure and effects of abuse on psychosocial functioning among Lithuanian adolescents: A latent class analysis approach. Child Abuse and Neglect, 108, 104684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104684

Lotzin, A., Aakvaag, H.F., Acqarini, E., Ajdukovic, D., Ardino, V., Böttche, M., Bondjers, K., Bragesjö, M., Dragan, M., Grajewski, P., Figueiredo-Braga, M., Gelezelyte, O., Javakhishvili, J., Kazlauskas, E., Knefel, M., Lueger-Schuster, B., Makhashvili. N., Mooren, T., Sales, L., Stevanovic, A., & Schäfer, I. 2020). Stressors, coping and symptoms of adjustment disorder in the course of COVID-19 pandemic – Study protocol of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) pan-European study. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11, 1780832. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1780832

Javakhishvili, J., Ardino, V., Bragesjö, M., Kazlauskas, E., Olff, O., Schäfer, I. (2020). Trauma-informed responses in addressing public mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: Position paper of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS). European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11, 1780782. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1780782

Gegieckaite, G., & Kazlauskas, E. (2020). Do emotion regulation difficulties mediate association between neuroticism, insecure attachment, and prolonged grief? Death Studies, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2020.1788667

Kazlauskas, E., & Quero, S. (2020). Adjustment and coronavirus: How to prepare for COVID-19 pandemic-related adjustment disorder worldwide? Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12, S22–S24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000706

Gegieckaite, G., & Kazlauskas, E. (2020). Fear of death and death acceptance among bereaved adults: associations with prolonged grief. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/0030222820921045

Kazlauskas, E., & Grigutyte, N. (2020). Clinical psychology in Lithuania: Current developments in training and legislation. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 2, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.v2i1.2835

Truskauskaite-Kuneviciene, I., Kazlauskas, E., Ostreikaite-Jurevice, R., Brailovskaia, J., & Margraf, J. (2020). Positive mental health and adjustment following life-stressors among young adults. Current Psychology, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00714-3

Kazlauskas, E., Eimontas, J., Olff, M., Zelviene, P., & Andersson, G. (2020). Adherence predictors in internet-delivered self-help intervention for life stressors-related adjustment disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 137.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00137

Kazlauskas, E., Zelviene, P., Daniunaite, I., Hyland, P., Kvedaraite, M., Shevlin, M., & Cloitre, M. (2020). The structure of ICD-11 PTSD and Complex PTSD in adolescents exposed to potentially traumatic experiences. Journal of Affective Disorders, 265, 169–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.061

Zelviene, P., Kazlauskas, E., & Maercker, A. (2020). Risk factors of ICD-11 adjustment disorder in the Lithuanian general population exposed to life stressors. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11, 1708617.https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2019.1708617

Kvedaraite, M., Zelviene, P., Elklit, A., & Kazlauskas, E. (2020). The role of traumatic experiences and posttraumatic stress on social anxiety in a youth sample in Lithuania. Psychiatric Quarterly, 91, 103–112.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-019-09684-7

Knefel, M., Lueger-Schuster, B., Bisson, J., Karatzias, T., Kazlauskas, E., & Neil, P. R. (2020). A Cross-Cultural Comparison of ICD-11 Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Networks in Austria, the United Kingdom, and Lithuania. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 33, 41–51. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22361

Gražulytė, D., Kazlauskas, E., Norkienė, I., Kolevinskaitė, S., Kezytė, G., Urbanavičiūtė, I., Sebastinaite, A., Korsakaitė, G., Želvienė, P., Ringaitienė, D., Šostakaitė, G., & Šipylaitė, J. (2019). Long-term quality of life and posttraumatic stress following elective cardiac surgery: preliminary findings of a 5-year follow-up study. Acta Medica Lituanica, 26, 87–92. https://doi.org/10.6001/actamedica.v26i1.3960

Patasius, A., Kincius, M., Kazlauskas, E., & Smailyte, G. (2019). The role of androgen‐deprivation therapy on suicide among patients with advanced prostate cancer: A nationwide population-based cohort study. Psycho-Oncology, 28, 2098–2100. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5186

Schäfer, I., Hopchet, M., Vandamme, N., Ajdukovic, D., El-Hage, W., Egreteau, L., Javakhishvili, J., Makhashvili, N., Lampe, A., Ardion, V., Kazlauskas, E., Mouthaan, J., Sijbrandij, M., Dragan, M., Lis-Turlejska, M., Figueiredo-Braga, M., Sales, L., Arnberg, F., Nazarenko, T., Nalyvaiko, N., Armour, C., & Murphy, D. (2018). Trauma and trauma care in Europe. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 9, 1556553. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2018.1556553

Paliaukiene, V., Kazlauskas, E., Eimontas, J., Skeryte-Kazlauskiene, M. (2018). Music performance anxiety among students of the academy in Lithuania. Music Education Research, 20(3), 390–397. https://doi.org/10.1080/14613808.2018.1445208

Eimontas, J., Gegieckaite, G., Dovydaitiene, M., Mazulyte, E., Rimsaite, Z., Skruibis, P., Zelviene, P., & Kazlauskas, E. (2018). The role of therapist support on effectiveness of an internet-based modular self-help intervention for adjustment disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 31, 146–158.https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2017.1385065

Kazlauskas, E., Gegieckaite, G., Hyland, P., Zelviene, P., & Cloitre, M. (2018). The structure of ICD-11 PTSD and complex PTSD in Lithuanian mental health services. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 9, 1414559.https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2017.1414559

Zelviene, P., & Kazlauskas, E. (2018). Adjustment disorder: Current perspectives. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 14, 375–381. http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S121072

Kazlauskas, E., Gegieckaite, G., Eimontas, J., Zelviene, P., & Maercker, A. (2018). A brief measure of the International Classification of Diseases-11 adjustment disorder: Investigation of psychometric properties in adult help-seeking sample. Psychopathology, 51, 10–15. https://doi.org/10.1159/000484415

Eimontas, J., Rimsaite, Z., Gegieckaite, G., Zelviene, P., & Kazlauskas, E. (2018). Internet-based self-help intervention for adjustment disorder: Preliminary findings. Psychiatric Quarterly, 89, 451–460. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009028

Kazlauskas, E., Zelviene, P., Lorenz, L., Quero, S., & Maercker, A. (2017). A scoping review of ICD-11 adjustment disorder research. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 8, 1421819.https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2017.1421819

Karatzias, T., Cloitre, M., Maercker, A., Kazlauskas, E., Shevlin, M., Hyland, P., Bisson, J., Roberts, N.P., & Brewin, C.R. (2017). PTSD and complex PTSD: ICD -11 updates on concept and measurement in the UK, USA, Germany and Lithuania. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 8, 1418103. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2017.1418103

Kazlauskas, E., Gailiene, D., Vaskeliene, I., & Skeryte-Kazlauskiene, M. (2017). Intergenerational transmission of resilience? Sense of coherence is associated between Lithuanian survivors of political violence and their adult offspring. Frontiers in Psychology, 8: 1677. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01677

Kazlauskas, E. (2017). Challenges for providing health care in traumatized populations: Barriers for PTSD treatments and the need for new developments. Global Health Action, 10(1), 1322399. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2017.1322399

Kazlauskas, E., Zelviene, P., & Eimontas, J. (2017) ‘No posttraumatic stress disorder in Lithuania’: National health care fails to identify PTSD. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 30, 99–102. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22152

Kazlauskas, E., Jovarauskaite, L., Mazulyte, E., Skruibis, P., Dovydaitiene, M., Eimontas, J., & Zelviene, P. (2017). ‘It will get even better’: Preliminary findings from a trauma-focused psychotherapy effectiveness study reveal false positive patients’ long-term outcome expectations after the treatment. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 71, 277–281. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2016.1276623

Kazlauskas, E., & Zelviene, P. (2017). Association between posttraumatic stress and acceptance of social changes: Findings from a general population study and proposal of a new concept. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 63, 126–131. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764016687788

Zelviene, P., Kazlauskas, E., Eimontas, J., & Maercker, A. (2017). Adjustment disorder: Empirical study of a new diagnostic concept for ICD-11 in the general population in Lithuania. European Psychiatry, 40, 20–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.06.009

Skruibis, P., Eimontas, J., Dovydaitiene, M., Mazulyte, E., Zelviene, P., & Kazlauskas, E. (2016). Internet-based modular program BADI for adjustment disorder: Protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry, 16(1), 264. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-0980-9

Kazlauskas, E., & Zelviene, P. (2016). Trauma research in the Baltic Countries: From political oppression to recovery. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 7, 29295. https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v7.29295

Kazlauskas, E., Javakhishvilli, J., Meewisse, M., Merecz-Kot, D., Şar, V., Schäfer, I., Schnyder, U., & Gersons, B.P.R. (2016). Trauma treatment across Europe: Where do we stand now from a perspective of seven countries. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 7, 29450. https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v7.29450

Book chapters

Kazlauskas, E. (2020). Trauma-focused psychotherapy research: A study of the Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD outcomes. SAGE Research Methods Cases: Medicine andHealth Cases. SAGE Publications Ltd. doi:10.4135/9781529734881. ISBN: 9781529734881 (Online).

Meili, I. Gegieckaite, G., & Kazlauskas, E. (2019). Metaphors of Posttraumatic Growth: A Qualitative Study in Swiss, Lithuanian, and Brazilian Rural Communities. In A. Maercker, E. Heim, & L. J. Kirmayer (Eds.). Cultural Clinical Psychology and PTSD. (pp. 141–156). Hogrefe Publishing. doi:01027_00497_ADHOC.indd

Kazlauskas, E., & Želvienė, P. (2015). A history of political violence in the family as resilience factor. In D. Ajdukovic, S. Kimhi, & M. Lahad (Eds.), NATO Science for Peace and Security Series - E: Human and Societal Dynamics. Vol. 119: Resiliency: Enhancing Coping with Crisis and Terrorism (pp. 141–148). Amsterdam: IOS Press. doi:10.3233/978-1-61499-490-9-141. ISSN 1874-6276 (print) | 1879-8268 (online).

Events

Courses and conferences

We provide training and supervision of evidence-based trauma-focused treatments for mental health professionals. There are ongoing EMDR, BEPP training at the moment. Contact us about the possibilities of training and supervision of trauma-informed treatments.

We organize Annual Vilnius Trauma Conferences since 2010. Keynote speakers in past conferences were: prof. Andreas Maercker from Switzerland (2010), prof. Berthold Gersons from the Netherlands (2011 2017), prof. William Yule from Great Britain (2012), prof. Onja Grad from Slovenia (2013), Marinus van IJzendoorn from the Netherlands (2014), prof. Grete Dyb from Norway (2016), and others.

IX Annual Vilnius Trauma Conference was held on 25th October, 2019 in Vilnius University, invited keynote speakers: prof. Ulrich Schnyder (University of Zurich, Switzerland), prof. Siri Thoresen (Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic), prof. Rachel Dekel (Bar-Ilan University, Israel).

Resources

Assessment

We provide a specialized psychological assessment of traumatic experiences and trauma-related mental disorders. Using the most up-to-date measures validated in the Lithuanian population we provide psychological assessment and recommendations for treatment.

Treatment

Evidence-based trauma-focused treatments are offered at the Center. Please contact us for more information.