Eye movement desensitization reprocessing as a treatment for PTSD in conflict-affected areas.

Abstract

Objective: One recommended psychological intervention for trauma treatment in Western countries, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR). However, there is a paucity of data regarding treatment interventions in low-and middle-income countries. This study examined the efficacy of EMDR for treating posttraumatic stress (PTS), anxiety, and depression among a cohort of individuals with low socioeconomic status in a conflict-affected middle-income country as well as a smaller refugee cohort. Methods: Two hundred and sixty-eight adults residing in Lebanon (male = 65, female = 203, SD gender = 0.43; µ age = 30.5, SD age = 10.49; 85% Lebanese, 15% refugees [9.3% from Syria, and 5.7% from Iraq, Palestine, the Philippines, and Other]) received EMDR therapy. Measures of PTS, anxiety, and depression were taken at three time points: before treatment (T0), posttreatment (T1), and 6-month follow-up (T2). Results: Reduction in PTS symptoms from T0 to T1,

State of the science: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy

“…Reviews suggest that most EMDR trial participants, at least in studies conducted in the United States, are White, middle‐class, heterosexual, educated, and verbal adults (Madnick & Spokas., 2022). When studies have focused on applications of EMDR for treatment in non‐White participants, the therapy has often been delivered in a Westernized setting or the cohort sample size has been small (Wippich et al., 2023). Most studies also include participants with posttraumatic stress symptoms identified using self‐report instruments rather than clinician‐rated measures, and often, participants do not necessarily meet the full PTSD diagnostic criteria.…”

“…In the largest study to date, 268 adults with low socioeconomic status living in Lebanon, including a small refugee cohort, were treated with individual EMDR for symptoms stemming from a wide range of traumatic events. EMDR was found to be highly effective in reducing posttraumatic stress, depressive, and anxiety symptoms, and results were maintained at 6‐month follow‐up, although there was a 22% dropout rate (Wippich et al, 2023). The authors suggest this may have been a result of the fluidity and social instability of participants’ circumstances.…”

Group early intervention eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy as a video-conference psychotherapy with frontline/emergency workers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and moral injury—An RCT study

“…EMDR therapy is an empirically supported treatment for psychological trauma, endorsed by the World Health Organisation (2013), United Nations High Commission for Refugees (2022) and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2019). It is a psychological treatment for pathogenic (trauma) memories and their associated stress symptoms using a model of pathogenesis and change known as adaptive information processing (Hase et al, 2017;Hase, 2021;Farrell et al, 2022;Laliotis and Shapiro, 2022;Wippich et al, 2023). Shapiro (2017) considers EMDR to desensitize disturbing memories and stimulates the reprocessing of associated thoughts, feelings, and sensations towards adaptive resolution.…”

Epidemiology of substance use and mental health disorders among forced migrants displaced from the MENAT region: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

“…Studying the epidemiology of SUDs and MHDs among forced migrants from the MENAT region is crucial due to their unique challenges and vulnerabilities. There is a substantial body of research on SUDs [16,17] and especially MHDs [18][19][20][21][22] from the MENAT region. However, the availability of systematic reviews that comprehensively collect and analyze this data is limited.…”