Depression among college going youth and change in their coping pattern after EMDR treatment

Increasing rate of depression among college going youth is a critical problem. Depression can be expressed both in form of suicidal, self-harming actions or aggression. Studies show that suicide attempts among young people may be based on long-standing problems triggered by a specific event. Feelings of anger and resentment combined with exaggerated guilt can lead to impulsive, self-destructive acts along with the danger of students picking up habits like usage of substances of abuse to get over depression or reacting in a hostile, aggressive manner. In a study of college going students in India, Joseph. N, (2011) found that depression was seen among 79.2% students. Majority (41.2%) were found to be suffering from moderate followed by mild (26.6%) depression. Maladaptive coping is found to be the main predictor of depression, anxiety, and stress. Reducing maladaptive coping behaviors has most positive impact on reducing depression, anxiety, and stress in this population. In the present study, 6 college going students, 4 female and 2 male, 20-24 years of age were assessed for their depression and coping patterns before and after EMDR sessions. Average number of EMDR sessions was 6. The reasons of depression were different for every student but change in coping patterns start showing improvement with preparation phase only. Processing of different traumatic experiences (T & t) resulted in decreasing depressive symptoms with increasing adaptive coping patterns. Follow up after 3-4 months period, show stable mood and use of more adaptive coping pattern in all except one student.

Conference

English

U. Verma

Verma, U. (2014, January). Depression among college going youth and change in their coping pattern after EMDR treatment. In EMDR and depression/grief and mourning (Pamela Brown, Chair). Presentation at the 2nd EMDR Asia International Conference, Manila, The Philippines