A field study on the EMDR integrative group treatment protocol for ongoing traumatic stress provided to adolescent Eritrean refugees living in Ethiopia

EMDR-integrative group treatment protocol for ongoing traumatic stress (EMDR-IGTP-OTS) for reducing PTSD in Eritrean adolescent refugees.

Article Abstract

“The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the EMDR-integrative group treatment protocol for ongoing traumatic stress (EMDR-IGTP-OTS) in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms in adolescent refugees living inside the Shimelba refugee camp in Shiraro, Ethiopia. A secondary objective was to present one clinical case of a male Eritrean refugee adolescent with characteristics of selective mutism and with symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression. A total of 48 Eritrean refugee adolescents were treated simultaneously with intensive EMDR therapy using the EMDR-IGTP- OTS. Each of the treatment group participants received an average of five hours of treatment, provided during six group-treatment sessions, over two consecutive days in a setting inside the refugee camp. EMDRIGTP-OTS treatment focused only on the distressing memories related to their life as refugees and did not address any other memories. No adverse effects were reported during treatment or at one-month post-treatment assessment. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL5) were used as pre and post-treatment assessments measuring each client’s anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between pre-test (M=42.63, SD=14.69) and post-test (M=27.46, SD=16.83); t(47) = 4.43, p<0.0001 in PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms pre-test (M=9.31, SD=3.71) and post-test (M=5.88, SD=4.88); t(47) = 4.43, p<0.0001, and in anxiety symptoms pre-test (M=10.65, SD=4.03) and post-test (M=6.73, SD=4.89); t(47) = 3.99, p<0.001. The study results show that the EMDR- IGTP-OTS could be an important component of a multidisciplinary approach to reducing or eliminating PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescent refugees living in refugee camps.”

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Article Access

Open Access

Smyth-Dent, K. L., Fitzgerald, J., & Hagos, Y. (2019). A field study on the EMDR integrative group treatment protocol for ongoing traumatic stress provided to adolescent Eritrean refugees living in Ethiopia. Psychology and Behavioral Science International Journal, 12(4), 1-12. Open access: https://dx.doi.org/10.19080/PBSIJ.2019.12.555842. Access link https://juniperpublishers.com/pbsij/volume12-issue4-pbsij.php.