A Randomized-Controlled Trial of EMDR Flash Technique on Traumatic Symptoms, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Life of Quality With Individuals Who Have Experienced a Traffic Accident

Abstract

The Flash Technique of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is widely recognized for its effectiveness in reducing the effects of emotional responses associated with traumatic memories. Using a randomized-controlled trial methodology, this study attempts to establish the efficacy of the EMDR Flash Technique. This study’s sample includes volunteers who were involved in traffic accidents and were given the randomized EMDR Flash Technique and Improving Mental Health Training for Primary Care Residents (mhGAP) Stress management module. The participants were given a socio-demographic data form, the Depression-Anxiety-Stress 21 scale (DASS-21), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the WHOQOL Quality of Life scale. Participants were evaluated using measurements taken before and after the application, as well as a one-month follow-up. The mean age of the participants was 36.20 (11.41) years and 82.1% (n = 32) were female. The DASS-21 Anxiety (η2 = 0.085), IES-R Intrusion (η2 = 0.101), Avoidance (η2 = 0.124), Total (η2 = 0.147), and WHOQOL-BREF Psychological (η2 = 0.106) score improvements of the EMDR Flash Technique group were shown to be statistically significant when compared to the mhGAP group. However, no statistically significant difference in the DASS-21 Depression, Stress, Impact of Event Scale-Revised Hyperarousal WHOQOL-BREF General Health, Physical, Social Relationships, and Environment component scores was reported between the two groups. The present study’s findings clearly demonstrate that the EMDR Flash technique, when applied to persons involved in traffic accidents, is successful in improving anxiety, intrusion, avoidance, total traumatic stress, and mental quality of life symptoms for at least 1 month. We believe that these findings will improve the reliability and applicability of the EMDR Flash Technique, which was tested for the first time in a clinical randomized-controlled trial (RCT).

The effectiveness, efficiency, and acceptability of EMDR vs. EMDR 2.0 vs. the Flash technique in the treatment of patients with PTSD: study protocol for the ENHANCE randomized controlled trial

“…However, EMDR 2.0 proved to be more efficient than EMDR therapy in reducing the emotionality of aversive memories. In a preliminary study with participants who experienced traffic accidents, a group protocol of EMDR 2.0 was investigated (40). The results showed that the EMDR 2.0 group protocol was effective in reducing the symptoms of PTSD and depression.…”

“…Several uncontrolled studies have been conducted that examined the effectiveness of the Flash technique. These studies suggest that the Flash technique is effective in reducing avoidance during recall of traumatic memories, disturbance or emotionality of traumatic memories, PTSD symptoms, symptoms of depression, and symptoms of dissociation (42,(44)(45)(46)(47). However, as these studies did not have a control condition, random allocation to treatment conditions, or clinical interviews to assess PTSD diagnosis and treatment outcome, it is yet unclear whether the Flash technique would be effective in the treatment of PTSD.…”

“…Although no differences between EMDR and Flash were observed in reducing emotionality and vividness of aversive memories, participants rated the Flash technique as more pleasant than EMDR therapy. In another controlled study on traffic accident victims, the effect of the Flash technique was compared to a stress management module, which mainly consisted of psychoeducation (49). The study found that the Flash technique condition outperformed the stress management module condition in terms of reductions in anxiety, intrusions, and avoidance, and in improving general quality of life.…”

AIP-based Professional Intervention Program for Adversity for trauma and stress reduction in groups: a pilot study in Ethiopia

“…Yaşar et al. ( 16 , 17 ) demonstrated in two studies that a single session of FT in a group format could result in substantial reduction in trauma symptoms. Yasar’s 2021 study also demonstrated continued improvement 30 days after the FT group.…”

“…Furthermore, a randomized control trial by Yaşar et al. ( 18 ) compared FT with a World Health Organization stress management module (Improving Mental Health Training for Primary Care Residents; mhGAP) in a group of people traumatized by traffic accidents and showed that FT was a superior trauma intervention.…”