Mental health is an integral part of comprehensive care for cystic fibrosis. The day-to-day management of a demanding chronic disease can present significant psychological challenges, both for people with cystic fibrosis and for their caregivers.
The Panhellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association announces that registration is now open for the new series of free online psychological support groups, which are being conducted as part of a scientific clinical study.
Who can participate?
- Adult Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
- Adult patients with CF who have undergone a transplant or are on a waiting list
- Caregivers of CF patients and transplanted patients (parents, family members, partners, etc.)
Registration
The new session is scheduled to begin on September 19, 2026. Registration will remain open until Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Register ➡ Registration Form
After submitting your registration, you will be contacted by Dr. Dipl.-Psych. Stavroula Rakitzis to provide information about the study, the informed consent process, and the next steps for participation.
Participants will be selected according to the criteria of the clinical study.
Why should I participate?
✔ You will strengthen your mental resilience and gain practical tools for managing the daily challenges associated with cystic fibrosis.
✔ You will receive meaningful psychological support from experienced psychologists through the strength, interaction, and experience of the group.
✔ You’ll meet people who are going through similar experiences in their daily lives with cystic fibrosis, in a safe environment of acceptance, understanding, and mutual support.
✔ You will contribute to scientific knowledge about mental health in cystic fibrosis, helping to improve community support services in the future.
✔ Participation is free, as the groups are part of an approved scientific clinical study.
How does a clinical trial work?
- The series of online meetings lasts 3 months and includes 13 weekly 90-minute online sessions.
- Participants are randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group, in accordance with the clinical trial protocol.
- Each participant may take part in the clinical trial only once.
- The clinical trial will be completed in 2027. By then, the last three cycles of the trial will have been conducted. After the clinical trial is completed, it will no longer be possible to enroll new participants in the research program.
- The clinical study is being conducted on a voluntary basis under the coordination of the Principal Investigator, Dr. Dipl.-Psych. Stavroula Rakitzis, in collaboration with Irini Pavlidi, whom we warmly thank for their volunteer efforts!
A program with international scientific recognition
The clinical study is a continuation of the psychological support program “Unlimited Breath, ” which has been implemented by the Panhellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association since 2022 thanks to the long-standing volunteer work of psychologist Dr. Dipl.-Psych. Stavroula Rakitzi. Over the past five years, Ms. Rakitzi has made a significant contribution to providing psychological support to the cystic fibrosis community throughout Greece.
The results of the program are presented each year by Mrs. Rakitzi at the Panhellenic Conference on Cystic Fibrosis and have been published in the international scientific journal *Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, representing significant international recognition of this volunteer-led initiative and the contribution of the cystic fibrosis community to the advancement of scientific knowledge.
Rakitzi, S., Spinou, A. & Giannaki, K. The Effectiveness of an Online Group Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy in Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association in Patients and Caregivers.J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 43, 50 (2025)
Read the article in the scientific journal:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-025-00611-3
More information about the program and the clinical study:
https://www.cysticfibrosis.gr/draseis/programma-psychokoinonikis-ypostirixis-aperioristi-anasa/#psihologiki-ipostiriksi
