The Effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy to Treat Symptoms Following Trauma in Timor Leste

Abstract

The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for treating trauma symptoms was examined in a postwar/conflict, developing nation, Timor Leste. Participants were 21 Timorese adults with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), assessed as those who scored ≥2 on the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). Participants were treated with EMDR therapy. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. Symptom changes post-EMDR treatment were compared to a stabilization control intervention period in which participants served as their own waitlist control. Sessions were 60-90 mins. The average number of sessions was 4.15 (SD = 2.06). Despite difficulties providing treatment cross-culturally (i.e., language barriers), EMDR therapy was followed by significant and large reductions in trauma symptoms (Cohen's d = 2.48), depression (d = 2.09), and anxiety (d = 1.77). At posttreatment, 20 (95.2%) participants scored below the HTQ PTSD cutoff of 2. Reliable reductions in trauma symptoms were reported by 18 participants (85.7%) posttreatment and 16 (76.2%) at 3-month follow-up. Symptoms did not improve during the control period. Findings support the use of EMDR therapy for treatment of adults with PTSD in a cross-cultural, postwar/conflict setting, and suggest that structured trauma treatments can be applied in Timor Leste.

Efetividade da EMDR no tratamento do transtorno de estresse pós-traumático: Uma revisão integrativa / Effectiveness of EMDR in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: An integrative review

“…A EMDR é utilizada como uma alternativa não-farmacológica no tratamento do TEPT, tendo apresentado resultados positivos ao longo do tempo (CHEN et al, 2015;CHEN et al, 2014 (KARATZIAS et al, 2019;DE BONT et al, 2016;SCHUBERT et al, 2016;TANG et al, 2015;VAN DEN BERG et al, 2015).…”

Abordagens contemporâneas nas ciências da saúde

“…A idade dos participantes variava de 11 a 53 anos e a escolaridade variava desde o ensino fundamental até a pós-graduação, sugerindo que seu uso pode ser aplicado em diferentes faixas-etárias e níveis de escolaridade (SHAPIRO, 1989). Ao observarmos os resultados dos estudos desta revisão, várias amostras específicas foram analisadas, incluindo de indivíduos que passaram por situações de guerra ou desastres naturais, além de adolescentes e adultos portadores de outras comorbidades mentais (KARATZIAS et al, 2019;DE BONT et al, 2016;SCHUBERT et al, 2016;TANG et al, 2015; VAN DEN BERG et al, 2015).…”

Psychological and social interventions for mental health issues and disorders in Southeast Asia: a systematic review

“…CG was not more effective than placebo for any outcome at all the time points (P = 0.86 at 2 months and P = 0.48 at 2–12 months) Resource activation for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, co-morbid symptoms and impaired functioning: a randomized controlled trial in Cambodia (Steinert et al 2017) [ 66 ] Remission rates of PTSD Symptoms of depression and anxiety Self-perception of functioning (SPF) Depression and emotional distress status ROTATE: Resource-oriented trauma therapy combined with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) resource installation N = 86 Individual 5 h in total delivered on a weekly basis IG reported significantly reduced levels of depression, anxiety and impaired functioning and increased PTSD remission rates (P < 0.001) compared with CG The Effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy to Treat Symptoms Following Trauma in Timor Leste. (Schubert et al 2016) [ 69 ] Severity of PTSD, Depression and Anxiety symptoms: Psychophysiological response EMDR therapy N = 21 Individual Up to 10 sessions lasting 60 – 90 min IG versus CG control was significant in reducing depression, anxiety and PTSD post intervention (P < 0.001), and depression three months later (P = 0.034). There were no significant differences in anxiety or PTSD symptoms 3 months later Unanticipated effect of a randomized peer network intervention on depressive symptoms among young methamphetamine users in Thailand (German et al 2012) [ 57 ] Sexual risk behaviour Methamphetamine use Depression Peer-educator network-oriented intervention N = 983 Group Delivered twice weekly, was 7 sessions in duration, with each session lasting 2 h, over the course of a month Post-assessment the IG group showed a significantly different decreasing trend in depressive symptoms as indicated by the condition-by-time interaction (P < 0.0001) Symptoms scores of PTSD and anxiety were remained the same at 3-month follow-up, but depression scores continued to decrease Effect of mobile phone-based psychotherapy in suicide prevention: a randomized controlled trial in Sri Lanka (Marasinghe et al 2012) [ 70 ] Suicidal ideation Depression Brief Mobile Treatment N = 68 Phase 1: Group Phase 2: Individual …”

“…The intervention programmes reviewed can be categorised as: lay delivered (n = 7) [ 40 , 41 , 49 , 56 , 64 , 68 , 71 ], yoga, aerobic and/or meditation based (n = 9) [ 42 – 46 , 50 – 52 , 58 ], CBT oriented (n = 8) [ 47 , 48 , 53 , 59 , 61 – 63 , 65 ] health worker delivered (n = 3) [ 54 , 55 , 60 ]. EMDR oriented (n = 2) [ 66 , 69 ] and professional hybrid interventions or programmes (n = 3) [ 57 , 67 , 70 ].…”

“…In an RCT of an EMDR intervention to treat trauma symptoms in post war Timor Leste, Schubert et al [ 69 ] found that EMDR – delivered individually, for up to 10 sessions, lasting 60–90 min in duration (N = 21) versus waitlist control was significant in reducing depression, anxiety and PTSD post intervention (P < 0.001), and depression 3 months later (P = 0.034). There were no significant differences in anxiety or PTSD symptoms 3 months later.…”