The efficacy of EMDR in a new context: Some findings from the ACEH survey

Context: As a response to the Tsunami in 2004 the Aceh Project organized by TraumaAid and sponsored byTDH and the BMZ from 2007 to 2009 treated more than 3200 clients for psychic disorders related to traumatic experiences .The treatment was given by Indonesian therapists who against the background of a lack of local therapists trained in psychotraumatology had to be trained within the project under the auspices of TraumaAid. This combination of EMDR-Training and EMDR-Therapy in an extremely challenging context also offered an unique opportunity for a parallel and wide ranging monitoring and evaluation of the social and diagnostic parameters involved. Methodology: To guide the therapeutic process and to check on its long term efficacy 1200 adults and 1000 children were at the outset of their therapies asked to contribute detailed diagnostic data. While for adults the Hopkins Anxiety and Depression scales along with a 42-item Harvard Trauma Questionnaire was administered, children and adolescents up to age of 17 were given an adapted version of the CBCL. At the conclusion of their therapies 20 % of all respondents were rechecked with the same diagnostic scales, another group of 5 % again after 6 months. Results: The diagnostic data indicate a dramatic improvement after therapies that involved a range of therapeutic techniques including stabilising and EMDR protocols. The relation between diagnostic dimensions (intrusions, somatic reactions, social relations, expression of feelings and attention problems) and social factors (gender, age) was further explored.

Conference

English

Peter J. Bumke
Ute Sodemann

Bumke, P. J., & Sodemann, U. (2010, July). The efficacy of EMDR in a new context: Some findings from the ACEH survey. Symposium (Carolyn L. Neunuebel, Chair) conducted at the 1st EMDR Asia Conference, Bali, Indonesia