Efficacy of the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing group protocol with children in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder in refugee children

Abstract

The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is high among Syrian refugee children. Depression is another pathology whose symptoms are often seen associated with vulnerability to PTSD and decreasing life satisfaction in refugee children. The Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy method is a well-known intervention for the treatment of PTSD. Despite its treatment efficacy shown in clinical trials, individual EMDR applications fall short of the cost and time effectiveness targets in mass casualty incidents, such as war victimizations. In response to this need, a group treatment protocol developed especially for children (EMDR-GP/C) was tested by a randomized controlled trial study with Syrian refugee children (n = 61, 6-15 years old). After the treatment, EMDR group had significantly lower trauma scores compared to the waiting-list (F-(1,F-58) = 4.72, p =.03, eta(2)(p) =.08). Depression scores significantly diminished (F-(1,F- 17) = 8.67, p =.01, eta(2)(p) =.34) and well-being levels increased (F-(1,F-58) = 6.58, p =.01, eta(2)(p) =.10). The curative effect of time by itself ( F-(1,F- 59) = 29.91, p <.001, eta(2)(p) =.34) and time-by-group interaction (F-(1,F- 59) = 4.61, p =.04, eta(2)(p) =.07) were significant on PTSD symptoms, but non-significant on depression and well-being levels. Results suggest that EMDR-GP/C interventions may reduce PTSD and depression symptoms, as well as improving the well-being of Syrian refugee children with PTSD. It also appears that the content of the EMDRGP/C helps children to integrate the whole experience, reconstructing an adaptive meaning for the traumatic event. (C) 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.