EMDR 2.0 Group Therapy for PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety in Earthquake Survivors

NCT06991244 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KINIK EMDR 2.0 EQ
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 58
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The objective of this clinical study was to examine whether a brief EMDR 2.0 group intervention could reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety in adult survivors of the 2023 Türkiye earthquake. The study was conducted face-to-face in a container city in Malatya, one of the regions most severely affected by the disaster. EMDR 2.0 is an enhanced version of standard EMDR therapy that uses working memory taxation techniques to accelerate emotional processing. The primary research questions included whether EMDR 2.0 group therapy reduces PTSD symptoms in earthquake survivors, and whether it helps decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Participants attended three EMDR 2.0 group sessions in person over the course of one week and completed psychological assessments before the intervention, one week after, and one month after. Verbal disclosure of traumatic memories was not required during the sessions. Researchers used self-report questionnaires to evaluate changes in trauma-related distress, depression, and anxiety. This study contributes to the development of fast, accessible, and field-based psychological support strategies for communities affected by disasters.

Conditions

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Depression; Anxiety

Keywords

PTSD; Depression; Anxiety; Disaster; Earthquake; EMDR 2.0; Group Intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• PTSD symptom severity

  The primary outcome is the change in PTSD symptoms as measured by the PCL-5, a 20-item self-report questionnaire that assesses PTSD symptoms based on DSM-5 criteria. The scale includes four subscales: intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.

  Assessed at three time points - before the intervention (Day 0), one week after the completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after the completion (approximately Day 30)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Depression symptom severity (DASS-21 Depression subscale)

  Assessed at three time points: before the intervention (Day 0), one week after completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after completion (approximately Day 30)

• Anxiety symptom severity (DASS-21 Anxiety subscale)

  Assessed at three time points: before the intervention (Day 0), one week after completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after completion (approximately Day 30)

• Stress symptom severity (DASS-21 Stress subscale)

  Assessed at three time points: before the intervention (Day 0), one week after completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after completion (approximately Day 30).

Study Arms (2)

EMDR 2.0 Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group received a face-to-face EMDR 2.0 group intervention delivered over three sessions in a container city setting in Malatya, Türkiye, following the 2023 earthquake.

Behavioral: EMDR 2.0 Group Protocol

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group did not receive any psychological intervention during the study period but completed the same assessments as the intervention group.

Interventions

EMDR 2.0 Group Protocol BEHAVIORAL

A short-term trauma-focused group protocol adapted from EMDR 2.0, delivered in three sessions over one week, targeting PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms among earthquake survivors. The first session lasted 90 minutes, followed by two 60-minute sessions. The intervention was administered face-to-face in a container city in Malatya, Türkiye. All sessions were conducted by a certified EMDR therapist who had completed advanced EMDR 2.0 training.

EMDR 2.0 Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 years or older
• Being a survivor of the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes
• Currently residing in a temporary container settlement in Malatya
• Ability to attend all three face-to-face intervention sessions
• Ability to provide informed consent
• Sufficient cognitive and emotional capacity to complete self-report questionnaires
• Basic literacy (reading and writing) in Turkish to understand and complete self-report scales
• Willingness to voluntarily participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Having a current diagnosis of a psychotic disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder with psychotic features)
• History of severe head trauma or neurological condition affecting cognitive capacity
• Active suicidal ideation or risk requiring emergency psychiatric care
• Ongoing substance dependence
• Receiving concurrent trauma-focused psychotherapy during the study period
• Significant hearing, vision, or language impairment interfering with participation
• Inability to attend scheduled sessions or complete follow-up assessments

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Okan University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Malatya Teknokent Container Settlement

Battalgazi, Malatya, 44000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Depression; Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Alisan B Yasar, MD AssocProf

  Istanbul Gelisim University

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator, PhD Researcher in Applied Psychology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 19, 2025
• First Posted: May 27, 2025
• Study Start: October 10, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 10, 2024
• Study Completion: December 30, 2024
• Last Updated: May 31, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)