Validation of measures and effectiveness of immediate stabilization procedure (ISP®) training and predictors
Description
Background and Aims
ISP® is a safe, simple, effective, and timely psychological stabilization intervention designed to reduce psychological distress levels, without the risk of retraumatization [1]. This quantitative study assesses the effectiveness of the Immediate Stabilization Procedure (ISP®) training and practicum course by assessing outcome knowledge and self-efficacy scores to administer ISP®, and the degree that participant education, occupational experience, and age predict the outcome results of these constructs. Due to the novelty of ISP®, measures to assess knowledge and self-efficacy have not existed and were therefore needed to be constructed and analyzed [2]. Data collected from 40 mental health practitioners and 40 first responders following the training course were subsequently analyzed to develop the measures and substantiate the effectiveness of training using applicable quantitative assessments.
Methods
The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the Immediate Stabilization Procedure (ISP®) training and practicum course by measuring participants’ outcome results of knowledge and self-efficacy constructs associated with the administration of ISP® and to determine the degree of education, occupational experience, and age predict measured results of these constructs. An equal number of participants from two occupational groups, mental health practitioners (n = 40) and first responders (n = 40), were selected. Each group received the same standard ISP® training and practicum course presentation and format. Two new instruments, ISP-EA and ISPSES were constructed to measure knowledge and self-efficacy constructs, respectively. Prior to (pre-test) and following completion (post-test) of the training course, knowledge and selfefficacy scores were obtained using the ISP-EA-25 and ISP-SES-25. The ISP® training and practicum course served as the intervention for the study. Eligibility of participants required United States based adults (> 18, but < 75 years of age), males and females (biologically assigned at birth), consisting of Mental Health Practitioners who have graduated with a master’s degree in the mental health field and were in active practice pursuing, or already had, professional licensing (psychologists, licensed professional counselors, and social workers) and First Responders (emergency medical technicians/services (EMT/EMS), firefighters, police officers, nurses, and trained disaster responders), who were actively employed in their respective occupations. Rasch Rating Scale Analysis (RSA) method and methodology was used to construct and assess the applicability of the ISP-EA and ISP-SES instruments to measure knowledge and self-efficacy related to ISP® and its administration [3]. Paired-samples t-tests were used to determine if a statistically significant mean difference existed between the initial results and final results for all participants. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine to what degree education, occupational experience, or age predict the ISP-EA and ISP-SES scores
Results
1. The optimized subsets of ISP-EA and ISP-SES items produced meaningful, theoretically consistent linear progression of assessment that can confidently be used to assess participant outcome levels of knowledge and self-efficacy following completion of the ISP® training and practicum course 2. A statistically significant mean difference exists between the initial results and final results for all participants, and between the individual groups based on education (mental health practitioners vs first responders). See Figure 1 and 2. 3. None of the three variables (education, experience, or age) were statistically significantly different than 0 (zero) to the model prediction, p > .05. Education (MHP vs FR), experience, or age are variables that are not able to predict ISP® training and practicum effectiveness based on post training results.
Conclusions
1. The ISP-EA and ISP-SES measure the constructs they were designed for, knowledge and self-efficacy, respectively. 2. The ISP® training and practicum course is effective as determined by outcome-based measurements of participant knowledge and self-efficacy results. 3. Educational background (mental health practitioner, first responder), occupational experience, or age had no significant effect on predicting outcome-based results implying they are not factors influencing participant knowledge or self-efficacy to effectively be trained in ISP administration.
ISP® is a safe, simple, effective, and timely psychological stabilization intervention designed to reduce psychological distress levels, without the risk of retraumatization [1]. This quantitative study assesses the effectiveness of the Immediate Stabilization Procedure (ISP®) training and practicum course by assessing outcome knowledge and self-efficacy scores to administer ISP®, and the degree that participant education, occupational experience, and age predict the outcome results of these constructs. Due to the novelty of ISP®, measures to assess knowledge and self-efficacy have not existed and were therefore needed to be constructed and analyzed [2]. Data collected from 40 mental health practitioners and 40 first responders following the training course were subsequently analyzed to develop the measures and substantiate the effectiveness of training using applicable quantitative assessments.
Methods
The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the Immediate Stabilization Procedure (ISP®) training and practicum course by measuring participants’ outcome results of knowledge and self-efficacy constructs associated with the administration of ISP® and to determine the degree of education, occupational experience, and age predict measured results of these constructs. An equal number of participants from two occupational groups, mental health practitioners (n = 40) and first responders (n = 40), were selected. Each group received the same standard ISP® training and practicum course presentation and format. Two new instruments, ISP-EA and ISPSES were constructed to measure knowledge and self-efficacy constructs, respectively. Prior to (pre-test) and following completion (post-test) of the training course, knowledge and selfefficacy scores were obtained using the ISP-EA-25 and ISP-SES-25. The ISP® training and practicum course served as the intervention for the study. Eligibility of participants required United States based adults (> 18, but < 75 years of age), males and females (biologically assigned at birth), consisting of Mental Health Practitioners who have graduated with a master’s degree in the mental health field and were in active practice pursuing, or already had, professional licensing (psychologists, licensed professional counselors, and social workers) and First Responders (emergency medical technicians/services (EMT/EMS), firefighters, police officers, nurses, and trained disaster responders), who were actively employed in their respective occupations. Rasch Rating Scale Analysis (RSA) method and methodology was used to construct and assess the applicability of the ISP-EA and ISP-SES instruments to measure knowledge and self-efficacy related to ISP® and its administration [3]. Paired-samples t-tests were used to determine if a statistically significant mean difference existed between the initial results and final results for all participants. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine to what degree education, occupational experience, or age predict the ISP-EA and ISP-SES scores
Results
1. The optimized subsets of ISP-EA and ISP-SES items produced meaningful, theoretically consistent linear progression of assessment that can confidently be used to assess participant outcome levels of knowledge and self-efficacy following completion of the ISP® training and practicum course 2. A statistically significant mean difference exists between the initial results and final results for all participants, and between the individual groups based on education (mental health practitioners vs first responders). See Figure 1 and 2. 3. None of the three variables (education, experience, or age) were statistically significantly different than 0 (zero) to the model prediction, p > .05. Education (MHP vs FR), experience, or age are variables that are not able to predict ISP® training and practicum effectiveness based on post training results.
Conclusions
1. The ISP-EA and ISP-SES measure the constructs they were designed for, knowledge and self-efficacy, respectively. 2. The ISP® training and practicum course is effective as determined by outcome-based measurements of participant knowledge and self-efficacy results. 3. Educational background (mental health practitioner, first responder), occupational experience, or age had no significant effect on predicting outcome-based results implying they are not factors influencing participant knowledge or self-efficacy to effectively be trained in ISP administration.
Format
Conference
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Beatty, S. (2025, June). Validation of Measures and Effectiveness of Immediate Stabilization Procedure (ISP®) Training and Predictors. Presentation at the 25th EMDR Europe Association Conference, Prague, Austria
Collection
Citation
“Validation of measures and effectiveness of immediate stabilization procedure (ISP®) training and predictors,” Francine Shapiro Legacy Library, accessed November 18, 2025, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/29760.