EMDR therapy and treatment of child victims of violence in peace and war

This article analyzes the experience of using EMDR therapy in working with children who have become victims of trauma and violence in war and peace.

Article Abstract

“The article analyzes the experience of using EMDR therapy in working with children who have become victims of trauma and violence in war and peace. The effectiveness of EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) lies in the effect of bilateral stimulation on the neurophysiological mechanisms of the brain of traumatized children. EMDR treatment, as well as CBT therapy, have shown success in working with children with post-traumatic stress disorder according to several criteria. However, analyses show that positive effects are achieved with EMDR in a shorter time, and the results are more permanent and stable. Based on the results published in numerous clinical studies and meta-analyses, in 2013 WHO (World Health Organization) recommended EMDR therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in children, adolescents and adults. The impact of war stress during all wars and in all regions leads to severe consequences, especially for children. The increase in traumatic events in recent years has created a great need for preventive measures and the use of EMDR to eliminate the consequences of childhood trauma in war and peacetime. National EMDR associations in Russia and Serbia are increasingly focusing their activities on working with children who have become victims of violence in war and peacetime. The above advantages and facts have become one of the reasons for the organized inclusion of EMDR therapy in work with traumatized victims of the massacres that occurred in Serbia in May 2023. The treatment is very responsible and complex, but it shows significant effects. The evaluation is ongoing and will provide valuable experience in this area.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access

Milicevic, N. M. (2024). EMDR therapy and treatment of child victims of violence in peace and war. Research Result Social Studies and Humanities, 10(3), 51-61. http://dx.doi.org/10.18413/2408-932X-2024-10-3-0-4

Миличевич Н. М. (2024). EMDR терапия и лечение детей-жертв насилия в мире и войне. Научный результат. Социальные и гуманитарные исследования, 10(3), 51-61. http://dx.doi.org/10.18413/2408-932X-2024-10-3-0-4