Department of Psychology

Brief CV

I graduated from the Department of Psychology at the University of Crete and obtained my MSc in Social Psychiatry – Child Psychiatry from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Greece. Finally, I received my Ph.D. degree from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece. I have been trained in Cognitive-Behavioural Psychotherapy at the University Mental Health Research Institute, and in Family Systemic Psychotherapy at the Unit of Family Therapy, Psychiatric Hospital of Attica. My research focuses on the investigation of psychosocial determinants of child neuropsychological and behavioral development in childhood, intrafamilial relationships in severe mental illnesses, and attitudes toward mental health.

Career Development

• Counseling Center of the University of Piraeus (2005 – 2008)
  
  • Psychologist
• Faculty of Social Medicine, Medical School, University of Crete (2009 – 2010)
  
  • Psychologist, Research Scientist (Rhea Study)
• Primary Health Care Unit, Department of Social Services, Municipality of Heraklion, Crete
  
  • Psychologist
• Department of Psychology, University of Crete (2017 – today)
  
  • Faculty member

Research Interests

My research interests include the study of family dynamics in severe mental illness, design and implementation of psychoeducational interventions aiming to improve dysfunctional interactions among family members, and attitudes towards mental health. My research is also focusing on the investigation of psychosocial determinants of child neuropsychological and behavioral development in childhood.

Research Programs

• Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI). Developmental Trajectories of Internalising and Externalising Symptoms from Early Childhood to Adolescence: The Role of Psychosocial and Environmental Factors – IntExt Trajectories [April 2022-present].
• Special Account, Research Committee, University of Crete. Couples coping with depression: dyadic analysis of family functioning, illness perceptions and coping strategies among patients with depression and their intimate partners [April 2020 – present].
• Erasmus+ 2020 KA226 Digital Partnerships Outcome of Selection Notification for 2020-1-UK01-KA226-HE-094622: Student Technostress in Undergraduate Distance Education: a Navigation Toolkit for WELLness – STUDENT WELL [May 2021-present].
• German Foreign Office, granted by DAAD: Digital Interventions in Greece: Teaching, Research and Professionalization in Clinical Psychology [September 2020-present].
• Region of Crete, Evaluation of the course and treatment of chronic mental illnesses in Crete [2018-2021]
• H2020-EU.3.1.1. Understanding health, wellbeing and disease, Early Life Stressors & Lifecycle Health (LIFECYCLE), 2017-2021 [2018-2019]
• Ministry of Health, Greece. Program of Prevention of Obesity and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in preschool children [2011-2013]
• EU FP7-2008-ENV-1.2.1.4: Genomics biomarkers of environmental health (EnviroGenomarkers): 2008-2013 [2009-2010]
• EU- FP7- ENV-2007-1: ESCAPE – European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution effects: 2008-2012 [2009-2010]

Selected Publications

• Koutra, K., Roumeliotaki, T., Kyriklaki, A., Kampouri, M., Sarri, K., Vassilaki, M., Bitsios, P., Kogevinas, M. Chatzi, L. (2017). Maternal depression and personality traits in association with child neuropsychological and behavioral development in preschool years: Mother-child cohort (Rhea Study) in Crete, Greece. Journal of Affective Disorders, 217, 89-98.
• Koutra, K., Vassilaki, M., Georgiou, V., Koutis, A., Bitsios, P., Kogevinas, M., Chatzi, L. (2016). Pregnancy, perinatal and postpartum complications as determinants of postpartum depression: the Rhea mother-child cohort in Crete, Greece. Epidemiology & Psychiatric Sciences, 27(3), 244-255.
• Koutra, K., Simos, P., Triliva, S., Lionis, C., Vgontzas, A.N. (2016). Linking family cohesion and flexibility with expressed emotion, family burden and psychological distress in caregivers of patients with psychosis: a path analytic model. Psychiatry Research, 240, 66-75.
• Koutra, K., Triliva, S., Roumeliotaki, T., Basta, M., Simos, P., Lionis, C., Vgontzas, A.N. (2015). Impaired family functioning in psychosis and its relevance to relapse: a two-year follow-up study. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 62, 1-12.
• Koutra, K., Triliva, S., Roumeliotaki, T., Basta, M., Lionis, C., Vgontzas, A.N. (2015). Family functioning in first-episode and chronic psychosis: the role of patient’s symptom severity and psychosocial functioning. Community Mental Health Journal, 52(6), 710-723.
• Koutra, K., Triliva, S., Roumeliotaki, T., Lionis, C., Vgontzas, A.N. (2015). Identifying the socio-demographic and clinical determinants of family functioning in Greek patients with psychosis. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 61(3), 251-264.
• Koutra, K., Triliva, S., Roumeliotaki, T., Stefanakis, Z., Basta, M., Lionis, C., Vgontzas, A.N. (2014). Family functioning in families of first-episode psychosis patients as compared to chronic mentally ill patients and healthy controls. Psychiatry Research, 219(3), 486-496.
• Koutra, K., Vassilaki, M., Georgiou, V., Koutis, A., Bitsios, P., Chatzi, L., Kogevinas M. (2014). Antenatal maternal mental health as determinant of postpartum depression in a population based mother-child cohort (Rhea Study) in Crete, Greece. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 49(5), 711-721.
• Koutra, K., Chatzi, L., Bagkeris, E., Vassilaki, M., Bitsios, P. Kogevinas, M. (2012). Antenatal and postnatal maternal mental health as determinants of infant neurodevelopment at 18 months of age: Rhea Cohort Study, Crete, Greece. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 48(8), 1335-1345.

Courses offered at the Undergraduate Level

• Personality Theories (PSY-1103)
• Adult Psychopathology (PSY-3602)
• Cognitive and Behavioral Approaches (PSY-3616)
• Psychosocial Interventions in Severe Mental Illness (PSY-3623)
• Family and Systemic Thinking (Seminar: PSY-3703)

Courses offered at the Postgraduate Level

• Psychodiagnostic case formulation of addictions: clinical assessment, differential diagnosis, and clinical understanding of personality
• Contemporary individual approaches in drug abuse and addiction