Implementation of evidence-based psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder in Azerbaijan

<b>Background:</b> Following the second Karabakh War, mental health services in Azerbaijan encountered significant challenges due to an increased number of traumatised individuals. To address the needs of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), two evidence-based treatments, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Written Exposure Therapy (WET), have been selected for future implementation in the country.<b>Objective:</b> This study aims to present preliminary findings on the training and implementation of CPT and WET.<b>Method:</b> Forty-two clinicians participated in the training programme, with 24 enrolled in CPT training and 18 in WET training. The programme included a self-administered online course, workshops, and consultations. Following each phase of training, clinicians completed the Perceived Characteristics of Intervention Scale (PICS) to assess the effectiveness and legitimacy of trauma-focused therapies.<b>Results</b>: Our results indicated a positive trend in perception from one assessment to another (<i>F</i>(2, 82) = 20.2, <i>p</i> < .001, <i>η</i>²<i>p</i> = .330), along with a decrease in perceived risk associated with treatment (<i>F</i>(2, 82) = 5.3, <i>p</i> < .007, <i>η</i>²<i>p</i> = .114). Additionally, the study found that belonging to either the CPT or WET training group did not significantly influence positive perception.<b>Conclusions:</b> These findings confirm the feasibility of utilising CPT and WET by clinicians providing services for PTSD patients in Azerbaijan.