Psychotherapeutic efficiency of a 10 session protocol associating EMDR on PTSD and dissociation among refugees torture survivors from Central and West Africa

Although EMDR is a therapy recognised by international scientific community as one of the first line treatment for PTSD, its application has never been assessed with torture survivors refugees. The aim of this research is to assess the therapeutic efficiency of a 10 session protocol associating psychoeducation, relaxation technique and EMDR on PTSD and dissociation in torture survivors refugees from Central and West Africa. Fifty-Two participants were recruited in two specialized trauma centres. Participants were allocated in three treatment conditions: “EMDR” (n = 21), “Stabilization” (n = 19) and “Intent to treat with medication” (n = 10). Each participant was assessed at the beginning, at the end and 4,5 months after the end of psychotherapy with a diagnostic interview (MINI) and selfreport questionnaires (HTQ, DES). The “EMDR” protocol showed a large and superior therapeutic efficiency for PTSD and dissociation variables in comparison with the control groups at the end of the therapy (ηp2 = .49 and .25 for PTSD and Dissociation) and at follow-up (ηp2 = .53 and .34). At the end of the therapy, 91% of the participants in the EMDR group no longer met criteria for PTSD and the intensity of dissociative experiences dropped by 72%. In conclusion, associating EMDR with psychoeducation and relaxation techniques is a relevant therapeutic protocol in this population.

Capcine de Fouchier
Alain Blanchet
Louis Jehel

de Fouchier, C.,  Blanchet, A., & Jehel, L. (2015, November). Psychotherapeutic efficiency of a 10 session protocol associating EMDR on PTSD and dissociation among refugees torture survivors from Central and West Africa.  Presentation at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 30th Annual Meeting, Miami, FL