Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of Attachment-Based EMDR (AB-EMDR) in reducing trauma and anxiety symptoms in adolescent bullying victims compared to standard EMDR therapy.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 50 adolescent bullying victims aged 12 to 18 years, who were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (AB-EMDR; n = 25) or the control group (standard EMDR; n = 25). We used the Bangla Children’s Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-13) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAIY) for assessing trauma and anxiety symptoms at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up. AB-EMDR incorporated attachment-focused adjuncts, including self-compassion exercises, emotion regulation strategies, empathy training, and relational role-play, alongside the standard EMDR eight-phase protocol.

Results: MANOVA showed significant group differences, with AB-EMDR yielding greater reductions in trauma and anxiety (ηp² = 0.721). Significant time effects (ηp² = 0.530) indicated improvement from baseline to post-intervention, maintained at follow-up. The group × time interaction (ηp² = 0.243) suggested faster and larger symptom reduction in AB-EMDR. Post-hoc analysis revealed substantial enhancements from T0 to T2.

Conclusion: EMDR effectively reduced trauma symptoms and anxiety in a sample of adolescent bullying victims, and incorporating attachment-based interventions enhances outcomes. Integrating attachment-focused elements within EMDR appears promising; however, further studies with larger, more diverse populations are warranted.”