Christina Papachristou
Christina Papachristou is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist and since 2002 Assistant Professor for Clinical Psychology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in the Department of Psychology. She is a graduate of the same Department. She holds a Master Degree in Public Health from the Technical University in Berlin, Germany and a MSc in Heath Economics, Policy and Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She attained her doctoral degree in 2006 in the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Germany, where she served as clinical and research associate in the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine for 17 years, and gained rich experience in Psychosomatic Medicine, Liaison Psychology and Health Psychology. She is an experienced psychologist and researcher in the Field of Transplantation Medicine, a member of the German Transplantation Society, the European Transplantation Society and vice-chair of ELPAT, a European Platform for the Ethical Legal and Psychosocial Aspects in Transplantation. She has been involved in research and actions related to the application of psychology with regard to societal issues, as in unwanted pregnancy in adolescence and organ trafficking. She is an active member of COFS (Coalition for Organ Failure Solutions), a NGO for the identification and support of victims-survivors of organ trafficking. She has trained in Systemic Therapy (2000-2003) and in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (2013-2020). Her research interests lie in the fields of Clinical and Health Psychology, the application and effectiveness of Psychotherapy, the social determinants of (mental) health and the psychosocial aspects in Organ Transplantation. Recently, she discovered her interest in group analysis and its potential, and is currently in training.
My research interests fall in the intersection between psychology, psychotherapy and health. My research focus lies on the psychosocial aspects of living organ donation and transplantation (e.g. donor selection, psychosocial assessment, decision-making, postoperative care, body perception) and the psychosocial aspects of organ trafficking (processes, vulnerability, informed consent). Recently, I have been involved in research regarding aspects of online psychotherapy. I am interested in the use of psychotherapeutic groups and group analysis as a means for prevention, therapy and support. Methodologically my emphasis lies on qualitative research methods and my psychotherapeutic approach on psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Fendel U, Sandler H, Papachristou C., Rose M, Klapp BF. (2018). Bodily experiences of inpatients with severe anorexia nervosa during treatment with the Body Monochord – a qualitative interventional study. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 59, 7-16.
Kröncke S, Greif-Higer G, Albert W, de Zwaan M, Erim Y, Eser-Valeri D, Papachristou, C., Petersen I, Schulz KH, Tiggers-Limmer K, Vitinius F, Ziegler K, Künsebeck HW. Psychosocial Evaluation of Transplant Patients – Recommendations for the Guidelines for Organ Transplantation. Psychotherapie Psychosomatik und Medizinische Psychologie 2018;68(05):179-184
Hermann H, Grimm A, Klapp BF, Neuhaus R, Papachristou C. Body experience after liver transplantation: A Body Grid Examination. Journal of Constructivist Psychology 2017;30:295-314
Massey E, Timmermann L, Ismail S, Lopes A, Duerinckx N, Mapple H, Mega I, Papachristou C, Doebbels F. The ELPAT living organ donor Psychosocial Assessment Tool (EPAT): from ‘what’ to ‘how’ of psychosocial screening – a pilot study. Transplant International 2018 Jan;31(1):56-70
Pascalev A, Van Assche K, Sándor J, Codreanu N; Naqvi A; Gunnarson M; Frunza M, Yankov J. Protection of human being trafficked for the purpose of organ removal: Recommendations. Transplantation Direct 2016 Febr;(2;2): e59
Tong A, Hanson C, Chapmann J, Halleck F, Budde K, Papachristou C, Craig J. The preferences and perspectives of Nephrologists on Patients’ Access to Kidney Transplantation: A systematic Review. Transplantation. 2014 Aug; 98(7)
Manyalich M, Menjivar A, Yucetin L, Peri JM, Torres X, Dias L, Hiesse C, Papachristou C, Fherman-Ekholm I, Kvarnström N et al. Living Donor Psychosocial Assessment Follow-Up Practices in the Partners’ Countries of the ELIPSY Project. Transplant Proc 2012 Sep;44(7):2246-9
Papachristou C, Walter M, Frommer J, Klapp BF. Decision-making and risk assessment in living liver donation – How informed is the informed consent of donors? A qualitative study. Psychosomatics. 2010 Jul;51(4):312-9
Hermann H, Klapp BF, Danzer G, Papachristou C. Gender-specific differences associated with living donor liver transplantation – a review study. Liver Transplantation. 2010 Mar;16(3):375-86.
Papachristou C, Frommer J, Walter M, Klapp BF. Living donor liver transplantation and its impact on the donor-recipient relationship – Results of a qualitative interview study with donors. Clinical Transplantation 2009;23(3):382-91
Papachristou C, Walter M, Frommer J, Klapp BF. A model of risk and protective factors influencing the postoperative course of live liver donors. Transplant Proc 2009; 41(5):1682-6
Papachristou C, Walter M, Frommer et al. „I would consider it thrice…“ – Living donor liver transplantation: a cutting event in the donor’s life and the necessity to invoke awareness in the decision making/ “Ich würde es mir dreimal überlegen…“ – Problemkonstellationen biographischer Arbeit vor und nach Leberlebendspenden. Psychotherapie und Sozialwissenschaft 2006; 8:71-93
Papachristou C, Klapp BF. The psychological evaluation of the living liver donor. Acta Gastroenterologica belgica 2010 Jul-Sep;73(3):383-8
Papachristou C, Walter M, Dietrich, Danzer G, Klupp J, Klapp BF. Motivation for living donor liver transplantation from the donors’ perspective: an in-depth qualitative research study. Transplantation 2004;78(10):1506-1514
Walter M, Papachristou C, Pascher A et al. Impaired psychosocial outcome of donors after adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation: An in-depth qualitative research study. Clinical Transplantation 2006;20(4):410-5
Walter M, Pascher A, Papachristou C et al. Psychological and somatic aspects of living donor liver transplantation : preoperative assessment and outcome of donors. Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 2005;130(30):1749-55
Walter M, Papachristou C, Danzer G et al. Willingness to donate: an interview study before liver transplantation. Journal of Medical Ethics 2004;30(6):544-50
Walter M, Papachristou C, Danzer G et al. The decision oft he indivual to donate a liver: Content analysis of preoperative interviews with respect to ambivalence and motivation. Zeitschrift für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie 2004;52 (2): 150-167
Walter M, Dammann G, Papachristou C et al. Quality of life of living donors before and after living donor liver transplantation. Transplant Proc 2003;35(8):2961-3
Walter M, Papachristou C, Fliege H et al. Psychosocial stress of living donors after living donor liver transplantation. Transplant Proc 2002;34(8):3291-2