Effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing technique on depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms among emergency nurses

This study evaluated the effect of EMDR on post-traumatic stress symptoms and depression among emergency nurses.

Article Abstract

“Background: Emergency department nurses often work in challenging workplace situations, which can cause mental health issues such as depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms that, as a sequence, negatively impact their personal and professional well-being. The eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) technique is a structured therapy that facilitates healing from emotional disturbance caused by distressful life experiences. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing technique on depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms among emergency nurses.

This study was carried out using a quasi-experimental design at the Emergency Departments of Accidents Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, and Pediatrics Hospital at Zagazig University Hospitals, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. The study included a sample of seventy-five emergency nurses who met the inclusion criteria. The study’s data were collected using the following tools: a structured interview questionnaire composed of two parts (a demographic data sheet and a work data sheet), the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II), and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5).

Results: The findings of this study showed highly significant improvement (p < 0.0001) in levels and mean scores of depression as well as post-traumatic stress symptoms after application of the EMDR technique compared with pre-application of the EMDR technique.

Conclusions: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing technique was effective in reducing depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms among emergency nurses. Therefore, it is recommended to replicate  the  study using a larger probability sample of nursing staff to help for generalization of the results and confirm the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing technique.”

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Article Access

Open access

Farid Ali Mohamed, F., Ragab El Sebaie, S., & Mohamed Metwaly, S. (2023). Effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing technique on depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms among emergency nurses. Tobacco Regulatory Science, 9(1), 6063-6083. https://doi.org/10.18001/TRS.9.1.423  Open access retrieval here: https://www.tobreg.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1794

About the Journal

“Tobacco Regulatory Science (TRS) (Electronic ISSN 2333-9748) is a rigorously peer-reviewed online scientific journal for the dissemination of research relevant to the regulation of tobacco products. The journal content includes a broad array of research domains, including chemistry, biology, behavior, community, and population-level surveillance and epidemiology.”

—Description from publisher