Post-traumatic stress disorder among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention protocol
Description
Background and aims
COVID-19 pandemic represents one of the most catastrophic events of recent times. The population of healthcare workers (HCW) was the most affected. The present study aimed at investigating PTSD in a sample of Italian HCW during this outbreak and to evaluate the effectiveness of the EMDR Therapy with this population.
Methods
A total of 744 healthcare workers were included. 587 healthcare workers were treated with EMDR, while the other 157 were not treated. The post-traumatic symptomatology was evaluated through IES-R and to investigate the level of intensity of emotional activation was used THERMO at two time points (pre-post treatment).
Results
The results obtained between EMDR treatment and non-EMDR treatment (n = 68 vs. waitlist non-treatment group n = 157). All scores pre- and post-EMDR decreased significantly. The differences between pre- and post-treatment of the IES-R scores of subjects in which EMDR was performed as compared to the scores pre- and post-12 weeks of waiting list subjects in which it was not performed were significantly different.
Conclusions
The findings suggest that HCW were at high risk of developing PTSD when confronted with COVID-19 outbreak and suggest the importance of psychological support during this humanitarian emergency.
Abstract topic
Healthcare workers, EMDR, COVID-19, humanitarian emergency
COVID-19 pandemic represents one of the most catastrophic events of recent times. The population of healthcare workers (HCW) was the most affected. The present study aimed at investigating PTSD in a sample of Italian HCW during this outbreak and to evaluate the effectiveness of the EMDR Therapy with this population.
Methods
A total of 744 healthcare workers were included. 587 healthcare workers were treated with EMDR, while the other 157 were not treated. The post-traumatic symptomatology was evaluated through IES-R and to investigate the level of intensity of emotional activation was used THERMO at two time points (pre-post treatment).
Results
The results obtained between EMDR treatment and non-EMDR treatment (n = 68 vs. waitlist non-treatment group n = 157). All scores pre- and post-EMDR decreased significantly. The differences between pre- and post-treatment of the IES-R scores of subjects in which EMDR was performed as compared to the scores pre- and post-12 weeks of waiting list subjects in which it was not performed were significantly different.
Conclusions
The findings suggest that HCW were at high risk of developing PTSD when confronted with COVID-19 outbreak and suggest the importance of psychological support during this humanitarian emergency.
Abstract topic
Healthcare workers, EMDR, COVID-19, humanitarian emergency
Format
Conference
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Fernandez, I., Pagani, M., & Gallina, E. (2023, June). Post-traumatic stress disorder among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention protocol. Presentation at the EMDR Europe Conference, Bologna, Italy
Citation
“Post-traumatic stress disorder among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention protocol,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 10, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/28218.