Trauma Stabilisation as a Sole Treatment Intervention for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Southeast Asia contains high numbers of traumatised populations arising from either natural disasters or interpersonal violence. Consequently, the need for empirically based trauma treatments, compromised by insufficiency in appropriately trained clinicians and mental health workers, makes the situation more challenging in addressing traumatic sequelae in local populations. In response, the humanitarian/ trauma capacity building organisation, Trauma Aid Germany, trained 37 therapists in psycho-traumatology, based on EMDR Therapy, which included trauma stabilisation techniques. This research analyses the impact of Trauma Stabilisation as a sole treatment intervention for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in adults. Each client was screened for PTSD utilising the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire - pre- and post-treatment. Analysis of the data considered only those interventions focussed on trauma stabilisation, including psychoeducation. Participants receiving trauma confrontation interventions were excluded from the data. Trauma stabilisation - as a sole treatment intervention, was highly effective in alleviating PTSD diagnoses. Results demonstrate PTSD symptoms were reduced in both clinical and sub-clinical trauma groups. The data set suggests trauma stabilisation, as a sole treatment intervention, was safe, effective, efficient and sufficient treatment intervention for PTSD. Furthermore, trauma stabilisation interventions have the advantage of being safe, flexible, and adaptable to the cultural and spiritual context in which they were are applied. The research findings also have implications regarding teaching and learning and the potential utilisation of paraprofessionals, and other allied health professionals in addressing the global burden of psychological trauma.

Treating implicit trauma: a quasi-experimental study comparing the EMDR Therapy Standard Protocol with a ‘Blind 2 Therapist’ version within a trauma capacity building project in Northern Iraq

“…Over the last 20 years, the development of EMDR Therapy in LMIC has occurred in response to humanitarian activity or targeted trauma capacity building in response to natural or human disasters (Adúriz et al 2009;Eichfeld et al 2019;Farrell et al 2011, Farrell and Keenan 2013, Farrell 2014Fernandez et al 2014;Gelbach and Davis 2007;Hasanovic 2016;Jarero et al 2008;Konuk and Zat 2015;Matthess et al 2019;Maxfield 2014;Mehrotra 2014;Shapiro 2012;Shapiro 2014aShapiro , 2014bSilver et al 2005).…”

Stabilizing group treatment for childhood-abuse related PTSD: a randomized controlled trial

“…Also, stabilization treatment might be more effective in different PTSD populations and settings. Eichfeld, Farrell (Eichfeld et al, 2018 ) for instance observed very large within-person effect-sizes and remission rates from stabilization-treatment for PTSD in a large study conducted in South-East Asia, albeit without a control condition. In that study, no clients had previous treatment-histories and the authors conclude that stabilization-treatment is effective, safe, and easily disseminated in post-conflict settings.…”

“…Together with the results of previous investigations, these results indicate that stabilization groups should primarily be considered if preferred by the patient or if other evidence-based treatments are unavailable. Future studies could investigate if stabilization groups would be better applied to lower levels of care or in settings where large – scale training of therapist in trauma-focused treatments are difficult (Eichfeld et al, 2018 ). Investigations should also examine if stabilization-treatment can bolster treatment gains from later or concurrent trauma-focused treatment, and increase motivation for trauma-focused interventions in patients who are reluctant to engage in such treatment.…”

Prevalence of PTSD Among Displaced Populations—Three Case Studies

“…This specific MHPSS intervention, informed by the mental health pyramid alluded to in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidelines, 1 targets three levels of interventions-the level of the individual, the level of the group (of service users) and the level of the wider community. Broadly, the intervention is informed by empirically validated trauma treatment interventions, which include principles of psychoeducation, and stabilisation techniques based on trauma processing therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy (Eichfeld et al, 2018). This includes pilot projects implementing group EMDR Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (GTEP) therapy under the clinical supervision of international experts.…”