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The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression among Syrian refugees: Results of a randomized controlled trial (Psychological Medicine)

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Home / Resources / PTSD / The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression among Syrian refugees: Results of a randomized controlled trial (Psychological Medicine)

The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression among Syrian refugees: Results of a randomized controlled trial

EMDR may be effective in reducing PTSD and depression symptoms among Syrian refugees with PTSD located in a refugee camp.


Article Abstract

Background: Previous research indicates a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among refugees. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective treatment for PTSD for victims of natural disasters, car accidents or other traumatic events. The current study examined the effect of EMDR on symptoms of PTSD and depression by comparing the treatment with a wait-list control condition in Syrian refugees.

Method: Adult refugees located in Kilis Refugee Camp at the Turkish–Syrian border with a PTSD diagnosis were randomly allocated to either EMDR (n = 37) or wait-list control (n = 33) conditions. All participants were assessed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus at pre-intervention, at 1 week after finishing the intervention and at 5 weeks after finishing the intervention. The main outcome measures were the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised. The Beck Depression Inventory and the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 were included as secondary outcome measures. The Trial Registration no. is NCT01847742.

Results: Mixed-model analyses adjusted for the baseline scores indicated a significant effect of group at post-treatment indicating that the EMDR therapy group showed a significantly larger reduction of PTSD symptoms as assessed with the HTQ. Similar findings were found on the other outcome measures. There was no effect of time or group × time interaction on any measure, showing that the difference between the groups at the post-treatment was maintained to the 5-week follow-up.

Conclusions: EMDR may be effective in reducing PTSD and depression symptoms among Syrian refugees with PTSD located in a refugee camp.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Purchase/Subscription Required

Acarturk, C., Konuk, E., Cetinkaya, M., Senay, I., Sijbrandij, M., Gulen, B., & Cuijpers, P. (2016). The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression among Syrian refugees: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Psychological Medicine, 46(12), 2583-2593.  https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291716001070

About the Journal

“Psychological Medicine is a leading international journal in the fields of psychiatry, clinical psychology and the related basic sciences. The journal includes original articles reporting key research being undertaken worldwide, together with literature reviews and shorter editorials by distinguished scholars.”

—Description from publisher

View the Resource
Basic Info Collapse

Date
June 29, 2016

Creator(s)
Ceren Acarturk, Emre Konuk, Mustafa Cetinkaya

Contributor(s)
Ibrahim Senay, Marit Sijbrandij, B. Gulen, Pim Cuijpers

Topics
PTSD

Client Population
Immigrants/Refugees

Practice & Methods
Efficacy, EMDR Early Intervention

More Info Collapse

Extent
11 pages

Publisher
Cambridge University Press

Rights
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016

APA Citation
Acarturk, C., Konuk, E., Cetinkaya, M., Senay, I., Sijbrandij, M., Gulen, B., & Cuijpers, P. (2016). The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression among Syrian refugees: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Psychological Medicine, 46(12), 2583-2593. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291716001070

Audience
EMDR Therapists, Other Mental Health Professionals

Language
English

Content Type
Article, Peer-Reviewed, RCT

Access Type
External Resource

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EMDR for Syrian refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: Results of a pilot randomized controlled trial (European Journal of Psychotraumatology)

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