Effects of EMDR on Psychological Symptoms and EEG Findings in Trauma-Exposed Individuals

NCT07206381 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: EMDR-EEG-TR-2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study will examine the effects of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) group therapy on adults who experienced the April 2025 Silivri earthquake in Turkey. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an EMDR intervention group or a waitlist control group. Psychological symptoms will be measured using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Quantitative EEG (QEEG) recordings will also be collected before and after the intervention to assess changes in brain activity related to emotional regulation and trauma processing. The goal of the study is to evaluate whether EMDR produces both clinical and neurophysiological improvements in trauma-exposed individuals.

Conditions

PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Depression; Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms; Sleep Quality; Quality of Life

Keywords

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Depression; Anxiety; Sleep quality; quality of life; earthquake; QEEG

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms (PCL-5)

  The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is a 20-item self-report scale measuring the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms according to DSM-5 criteria. Scores range from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating more severe PTSD symptoms. Change in total score from baseline (pre-intervention) to post-intervention will be assessed.

  Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)

• Change in Quantitative EEG (QEEG) Power Spectral Measures

  EEG recordings will be collected using the Neuron-Spectrum-5 device according to the international 10-20 system. Power spectral analyses will be performed across frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, high beta). Changes in absolute and relative power from baseline to post-intervention will be examined.

  Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Quality of Life (SF-36)

  Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)

• Change in Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DASS-21)

  Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)

• Change in Sleep Quality (PSQI)

  Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)

Study Arms (2)

EMDR Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive 5-7 sessions of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) group therapy, delivered face-to-face by trained therapists, in line with the standard EMDR protocol. EEG measurements and psychological scales will be administered before and after the intervention.

Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Group Therapy

Waitlist Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this arm will not receive any active psychotherapy intervention during the study period. They will undergo baseline and post-test EEG recordings and psychological assessments at the same time intervals as the experimental group. For ethical reasons, they will be offered EMDR therapy after the study is completed if requested.

Interventions

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Group Therapy BEHAVIORAL

Sessions conducted in groups with one therapist and one co-therapist; each session follows the EMDR standard protocol.

EMDR Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Meeting DSM-5 criteria for posttraumatic stress symptoms following the April 2025 Silivri earthquake
• Age between 18 and 50 years
• Either medication-free for at least 1 month or on a stable dose of psychotropic medication
• No medical contraindications for EEG recording (e.g., no epilepsy, no metal implants)

You may not qualify if:

• Current diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or a neurological disorder
• Receiving psychotherapy
• Inability to attend sessions regularly due to logistical or cognitive limitations

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Galata University: lead

Related Publications (6)

• Colvonen PJ, Glassman LH, Crocker LD, Buttner MM, Orff H, Schiehser DM, Norman SB, Afari N. Pretreatment biomarkers predicting PTSD psychotherapy outcomes: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017 Apr;75:140-156. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.027. Epub 2017 Jan 28.

  PMID: 28143760 BACKGROUND

• van der Kolk BA, Spinazzola J, Blaustein ME, Hopper JW, Hopper EK, Korn DL, Simpson WB. A randomized clinical trial of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), fluoxetine, and pill placebo in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: treatment effects and long-term maintenance. J Clin Psychiatry. 2007 Jan;68(1):37-46. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v68n0105.

  PMID: 17284128 BACKGROUND

• Jokic-Begic N, Begic D. Quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) in combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nord J Psychiatry. 2003;57(5):351-5. doi: 10.1080/08039480310002688.

  PMID: 14522608 BACKGROUND

• Butt M, Espinal E, Aupperle RL, Nikulina V, Stewart JL. The Electrical Aftermath: Brain Signals of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Filtered Through a Clinical Lens. Front Psychiatry. 2019 May 31;10:368. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00368. eCollection 2019.

  PMID: 31214058 BACKGROUND

• Pagani M, Di Lorenzo G, Verardo AR, Nicolais G, Monaco L, Lauretti G, Russo R, Niolu C, Ammaniti M, Fernandez I, Siracusano A. Neurobiological correlates of EMDR monitoring - an EEG study. PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e45753. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045753. Epub 2012 Sep 26.

  PMID: 23049852 BACKGROUND

• Pagani M, Di Lorenzo G, Monaco L, Daverio A, Giannoudas I, La Porta P, Verardo AR, Niolu C, Fernandez I, Siracusano A. Neurobiological response to EMDR therapy in clients with different psychological traumas. Front Psychol. 2015 Oct 27;6:1614. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01614. eCollection 2015.

  PMID: 26579006 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• ORCID profile of Principal Investigator

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Combat Disorders; Depression; Anxiety Disorders; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Interventions

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing; Psychotherapy, Group

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Nervous System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Desensitization, Psychologic; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Socioenvironmental Therapy

Central Study Contacts

Çiğdem Kınık, PhD

CONTACT

+905308777181; psk.cigdem@gmail.com

Önder Kavakçı, MD. Prof Dr

CONTACT

+90 530 419 91 92; okavakci@yahoo.com

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: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned in parallel to either an EMDR intervention group or a waitlist control group. The EMDR group will receive 5-7 sessions of standardized group therapy, while the control group will not receive any intervention during the study period but will be offered EMDR after study completion

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 26, 2025
• First Posted: October 3, 2025
• Study Start: March 4, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 15, 2026
• Last Updated: January 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share