EMDR Intervention for Psychological Trauma Among Syrian Refugees

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Psychological Trauma
• Interventions: Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy

• Registration Number: NCT01847742
• Lead Sponsor: Istanbul Sehir University

Brief Summary

To implement an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)intervention to treat the trauma symptoms among Syrian Refugees.

Detailed Description

In this project we aim to treat the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among Syrian refugees through an effective psycho-therapy technique called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Randomly selected refugees will be assessed through MINI PLUS for the diagnose of PTSD. Eighty refugees with PTSD will be randomly allocated to either 7 sessions EMDR or wait-list control group.Symptoms of PTSD (MINI PLUS, HTQ, IES-R) and depression and anxiety (BDI, HSCL)will be assessed at pre- and post-treatment and 4 weeks follow-up.

However, to our knowledge this is one of the first intervention studies which will be conducted in a refugee camp. Therefore we expect to have some practical and logical problems. In order to see the feasibility and efficacy of EMDR among Syrian refugees, before the main study we aim to run a pilot study with less participants. In the pilot we will assess the posttraumatic stress symptoms with Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the depressive symptoms through Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II).

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2013-04
• Study First Submitted: 2013-04-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-05-06
• Study First Posted: 2013-05-07
• Status Verified: 2013-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-08-07
• Last Update Posted: 2013-08-09
• Primary Completion: 2013-12
• Study Completion: 2014-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 80

Inclusion Criteria

• trauma symptoms

Exclusion Criteria

• pregnancy
• current or past psychotic disorder
• current or past substance abuse or dependence
• serious physical illness
• active suicidal ideation

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
EMDR intervention	Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy	40 participants with trauma symptoms will be randomly assigned to treatment group and receive EMDR intervention for trauma symptoms.EMDR is a trauma focused therapy starts with resource development and continue with bilateral stimulation while working on the most troubling traumatic memory.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
score on Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (at the main study)	before and after the treatment,an expected average of 7 weeks of EMDR treatment	The change in HTQ score will be assessed after the EMDR treatment has finished after 7 weeks(estimated).
Impact of Event Scale Revised (at the pilot study and the main study)	pre- and post treatment	The change in IES-R score will be assessed after the EMDR treatment has finished after 7 weeks(estimated).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
score on HSCL for depressive and anxiety symptoms (at the main study)	before and after the treatment, an expected average of 7 weeks of EMDR treatment	The change in HSCL score will be assessed after the EMDR treatment has finished in 7 weeks in average.
Score on BDI-II (pilot study and the main study)	before and after EMDR treatment, an expected average of 7 weeks of EMDR treatment	A change in BDI-II will be assessed after the EMDR treatment has completed in 7 weeks.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Kilis Camp for Refugees; 🇹🇷 Gaziantep, Turkey