EMDR treatment for children with PTSD: Results of a randomized controlled trial
Children 6–16-years-old with a DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD were randomly assigned to 8 weekly EMDR sessions or the waiting list control group.
Article Abstract
“The objective of the study was to examine the efficacy of EMDR treatment for children with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared with untreated children in a waiting list control group (WLC) participating in a randomized controlled superiority trial (RCT). Thirty-three 6–16-year-old children with a DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD were randomly assigned to eight weekly EMDR sessions or the WLC group. The Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Scale for Children (PTSS-C scale) was used in interviews with children to evaluate their symptoms and outcome. Post-treatment scores of the EMDR group were significantly lower than the WLC indicating improvement in total PTSS-C scores, PTSD-related symptom scale, and the subscales re-experiencing and avoidance among subjects in the EMDR group, while untreated children improved in PTSD-non-related symptom scale. The improvement in re-experiencing symptoms proved to be the most significant between-group difference over time. The results of the present exploratory study including a limited number of children with PTSD are encouraging and warrant further controlled studies of larger samples of children suffering from PTSD.”
—Description from publisher
Article Access
Purchase/Subscription Required
Ahmad, A., Larsson, B., & Sundelin-Wahlsten, V. (2009). EMDR treatment for children with PTSD: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 61(5), 349-354. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039480701643464
Date
July 12, 2009
Creator(s)
Abdulbaghi Ahmad, Bo Larsson, Viveka Sundelin-Wahlsten
Topics
PTSD
Client Population
Adolescents, Children
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Rights
Rights managed by Taylor & Francis
APA Citation
Ahmad, A., Larsson, B., & Sundelin-Wahlsten, V. (2009). EMDR treatment for children with PTSD: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 61(5), 349-354. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039480701643464
Audience
EMDR Therapists, Other Mental Health Professionals
Language
English
Content Type
Article, Peer-Reviewed, RCT
Access Type
External Resource