Relative effectiveness of EMDR versus relaxation training with adolescents following a terrorist attack at a school in Pakistan
Description
This article report on a series of single-subject research designs that compared the relative efficacy of relaxation training alone versus EMDR in the treatment of seven adolescents who experienced PTSD and depression related to a history of terrorist attack at school in Pakistan.
Hypothesis:
EMDR produces greater reductions in clinical anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms than those obtained through prior use of RT.
Methodology:
As these adolescents were from a vulnerable population, extreme care was used as a part of the initial assessment procedure conducted under supervision of a senior consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, participants completed the Dissociative Events Scale (DES) (Bernstein & Putnam, 1986) and The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) (Blake et al., 1990), administered by clinical psychologists, was used to make the diagnosis of PTSD. The sample was collected according to Shapiro’s (1995) guidelines to ensure maximum safety to participants. EMDR was provided through strict adherence to the protocol described by Shapiro (1995), RESEARCH
Research Design:
Treatment was provided to each participant in the context of an A phase, B phase, C phase single-subject research design, with the A phase used to gather data without providing formal therapy, the B phase indicating the weekly provision of structured relaxation training , and the C phase used to deliver EMDR therapy . Duration of these phases varied slightly across participants according to the clinical and scheduling exigencies of the participants academic commitments.
Outcome Measures:
There were two standardized outcome measures used to assess potential changes in psychiatric symptomatology in the participants. The first was the IES. The second primary outcome measure was the BAI. Subjective Units of Distress (SUDS) scores were used to guide the course of therapy only because they appear to be a state-specific measure of EMDR
Results:
5 out of seven participants exhibit a data pattern consistent with our hypothesis
Hypothesis:
EMDR produces greater reductions in clinical anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms than those obtained through prior use of RT.
Methodology:
As these adolescents were from a vulnerable population, extreme care was used as a part of the initial assessment procedure conducted under supervision of a senior consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, participants completed the Dissociative Events Scale (DES) (Bernstein & Putnam, 1986) and The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) (Blake et al., 1990), administered by clinical psychologists, was used to make the diagnosis of PTSD. The sample was collected according to Shapiro’s (1995) guidelines to ensure maximum safety to participants. EMDR was provided through strict adherence to the protocol described by Shapiro (1995), RESEARCH
Research Design:
Treatment was provided to each participant in the context of an A phase, B phase, C phase single-subject research design, with the A phase used to gather data without providing formal therapy, the B phase indicating the weekly provision of structured relaxation training , and the C phase used to deliver EMDR therapy . Duration of these phases varied slightly across participants according to the clinical and scheduling exigencies of the participants academic commitments.
Outcome Measures:
There were two standardized outcome measures used to assess potential changes in psychiatric symptomatology in the participants. The first was the IES. The second primary outcome measure was the BAI. Subjective Units of Distress (SUDS) scores were used to guide the course of therapy only because they appear to be a state-specific measure of EMDR
Results:
5 out of seven participants exhibit a data pattern consistent with our hypothesis
Format
Conference
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Wajid, M. (2017, April). Relative effectiveness of EMDR versus relaxation training with adolescents following a terrorist attack at a school in Pakistan. In Training/supervision/consultation issues in EMDR (Ann Parichawan, Chair). Presentation at the 3rd EMDR Asia International Conference, Shanghai, China
Citation
“Relative effectiveness of EMDR versus relaxation training with adolescents following a terrorist attack at a school in Pakistan,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 5, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/24428.