

Research Topics and Interests
- Transcultural psychotherapy
- Impact of war and forced migration on mental health
- Comparative thinking
- Culturally sensitive adaptation and validation of questionnaires
Curriculum Vitae
5/2022 - 08/2023
Licensed psychotherapist in Training
LVR Klinikum Düsseldorf
University Hospital Düsseldorfsince 10/2021
Postgraduate studies as a licensed psychotherapist (CBT)since 06/2024
Postdoctoral researcher
Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Health Psychology, University of Münster2021-2024
Doctoral Researcher
PhD (summa cum laude)
Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Health Psychology, University of Münster2019-2020
Master of Science (M.Sc.), Clinical Psychology
University of Groningen, NL11/2018-04/2019
Research Assistant
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, DE08/2018 - 10/2018
Research Internship
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, DE03/2018-05/2018
Internship
Department of Neuropsychology at Max Planck Psychiatry, Munich, DE2015-2019
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Psychology
University of Konstanz, DEResearch Articles (Journals)
- Churbaji D, Ritter L, Schlechter P, Kip A, Morina N. When an earthquake hits a war-affected population. Longitudinal growth trajectories of psychopathology in individuals in Northwest Syria. Br J Psychiatry. ;xx
- Churbaji D, Bryant R, Morina N. Toward collective healing: Peacebuilding and mental health in Syria. The Lancet Psychiatry. ;xx doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(25)00035-5.
- Churbaji D, Morina N. Cognitive factors underlying the impact of post-migration stressors on subjective well-being: Well-being comparisons and self-efficacy. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. ;31(1): Article e2928. doi: 10.1002/cpp.2928 .
- Churbaji D, Schlechter P, Nickerson A, Morina N. Emotion regulation profiles in Syrian refugees and migrants in Germany: Self-efficacy, resilience, and well-being comparisons. BMJ Mental Health. ;7: Article e301099. doi: 10.1136/bmjment-2024-301099.
- Rayes D, Karnouk C, Churbaji D, Walther L, Bajbouj M. Faith-based coping among Arabic-speaking refugees seeking mental health services in Berlin, Germany: An exploratory qualitative study. Frontiers in Psychiatry. ;12 doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.595979.
- Lindheimer N, Karnouk C, Hahn E, Churbaji D, Schilz L, Rayes D, Bajbouj M, Böge K. Exploring the Representation of Depressive Symptoms and the Influence of Stigma in Arabic-speaking Refugee Outpatients. Front Psychol. ;11(1192) doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.579057.
- Churbaji D, Lindheimer N, Schilz L, Böge K, Abdelmagid S, Rayes D, Hahn E, Bajbouj M, Karnouk C. Development of a Culturally Sensitive Version of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) in Standard Arabic. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. ;88(2): 95–104. doi: 10.1186/s13033-021-00447-1 .