Early Intervention for Clinicians in War Zones

This randomized controlled trial investigated the use of virtual EMDR Group Traumatic Episode Protocol in reducing symptoms of wartime psychological distress in Ukrainian mental health clinicians.

Resource Abstract

“Clinicians operating in war zones and enduring ongoing traumatic stress often experience the same symptoms as their clients. This quantitative randomized controlled trial investigated the use of virtual delivery of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (EMDR G-TEP) in reducing symptoms of wartime psychological distress in Ukrainian mental health clinicians (N = 63). Often, trauma interventions are administered when the participant has been relocated to a place of safety; however, this study included participants who were experiencing ongoing traumatic stress without a posttraumatic window of safety. Wartime psychological distress was measured using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. After participants completed the pretests, the intervention group received 2 60-min online sessions of EMDR G-TEP on 2 consecutive days. Participants were reassessed at a 6-week follow-up. Only the intervention group experienced substantial improvement in both measures across 3 time points (P < 0.001). The study was conducted during the Russian–Ukrainian War, when participants were without a posttraumatic window of safety and were scattered across Ukraine. Results of this study suggest that virtual delivery of EMDR G-TEP may be an effective intervention in reducing symptoms of wartime psychological distress among clinicians working with clients amid war.”

—Description from publisher

Resource Access

Open Access

Palen, C., Zaporozhets, O., Compton, L., & Luber, M. (2025). Early Intervention for Clinicians in War Zones. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 19, Article 0012. https://doi.org/10.34133/jemdr.0012