EMDR Intervention for Psychological Trauma Among Syrian Refugees

EMDR Treatment for Psychological Trauma Among Syrian Refugees in Kilis, Randomized Controlled Trial.

To implement an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)intervention to treat the trauma symptoms among Syrian Refugees.

In this project we aim to treat the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among Syrian refugees through an effective psycho-therapy technique called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Randomly selected refugees will be assessed through MINI PLUS for the diagnose of PTSD. Eighty refugees with PTSD will be randomly allocated to either 7 sessions EMDR or wait-list control group.Symptoms of PTSD (MINI PLUS, HTQ, IES-R) and depression and anxiety (BDI, HSCL)will be assessed at pre- and post-treatment and 4 weeks follow-up.

However, to our knowledge this is one of the first intervention studies which will be conducted in a refugee camp. Therefore we expect to have some practical and logical problems. In order to see the feasibility and efficacy of EMDR among Syrian refugees, before the main study we aim to run a pilot study with less participants. In the pilot we will assess the posttraumatic stress symptoms with Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the depressive symptoms through Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II).

Inclusion Criteria:

• trauma symptoms

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy
• current or past psychotic disorder
• current or past substance abuse or dependence
• serious physical illness
• active suicidal ideation