EMDR with children and adolescents after single-incident trauma: An intervention study

This study used a naturalistic design to investigate the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) with children and adolescents who were exposed to single-incident trauma. Participants were 36 children and adolescents ranging in age from 1 year 9 months to 18 years 1 month who were referred consecutively to the author's private practice. Assessments were conducted at intake, post-waitlist/pretreatment, and at follow up. EMDR treatment resulted in significant improvement (Cohen's d = 1.87). Follow-ups after 6 months revealed stable, further slight improvement. It was shown that children younger than 4 years of age can be treated using EMDR and that the group of preschool children had the same benefit from the treatment as the school-age children.

Journal

English

Thomas Hensel

Hensel, T. (2009). EMDR with children and adolescents after single-incident trauma: An intervention study. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 3(1), 2-9. doi:10.1891/1933-3196.3.1.2