NCT07822165

Brief Summary

Many people who migrate to new countries experience significant emotional and psychological challenges. These challenges can include depression, anxiety, stress, and difficulty adjusting to a new culture and society. This pilot study examined whether a specialized form of psychotherapy called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), adapted specifically for migration-related experiences, may help reduce these psychological difficulties and support social adaptation. Participants were first-generation Turkish adults living in five European countries-the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, and Austria-who reported emotional distress associated with migration and adaptation challenges. They received 12 weekly individual sessions delivered by licensed EMDR therapists, focusing on distressing experiences and difficulties related to adjusting to life in a new country. Before and after the therapy, participants completed questionnaires measuring their levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and their sense of social adaptation in their new communities. This is a small single-arm pilot study without a control group. It was designed to provide preliminary information that may inform larger controlled trials.

Trial Health

90
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
38

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable depression

Timeline
Completed

Started Oct 2025

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable depression

Geographic Reach
2 countries

2 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 23, 2025

Completed
9 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 23, 2026

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 23, 2026

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 3, 2026

Completed
13 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 16, 2026

Completed
Last Updated

September 16, 2026

Status Verified

September 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

9 months

First QC Date

September 3, 2026

Last Update Submit

September 15, 2026

Conditions

DepressionAnxietyStressSocial Adaptation

Keywords

EMDRmigrationpsychological distresssocial adaptation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21)

    Psychological distress was assessed using the DASS-21, the short form of the original 42-item DASS developed by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995). The Turkish adaptation of the DASS-21 was conducted by Yılmaz et al. (2017). The measure comprises three seven-item subscales assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress during the preceding week. Items are rated on a four-point Likert-type scale ranging from 0 (Did not apply to me at all) to 3 (Applied to me very much). The DASS-21 contains no reverse-scored items. Each subscale yields a score ranging from 0 to 21, and the total DASS-21 score ranges from 0 to 63. The Turkish version has demonstrated adequate internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of .82 for depression, .81 for anxiety, and .76 for stress (Yılmaz et al., 2017). In the present study, depression, anxiety, and stress were specified as the primary psychological outcomes.

    Baseline (Before the first EMDR session) and post-treatment (Week 12, after final EMDR session)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Social Cohesion Scale for Immigrants (SCSI)

    Baseline (Before the first EMDR session) and post-treatment (Week 12, after final EMDR session)

Study Arms (1)

EMDR therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

12 individual weekly online psychotherapy sessions delivered by licensed EMDR therapists. Each session is 45 minutes. Clinical focus of the intervention addresses migration-related psychological distress.

Behavioral: EMDR

Interventions

EMDRBEHAVIORAL

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. EMDR employs bilateral stimulation to facilitate processing of distressing memories and maladaptive cognitions. This intervention addresses migration-related psychological distress. Sessions followed standard EMDR phases including history-taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and re-evaluation. No medication or control condition.

EMDR therapy

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • First-generation Turkish adults who are currently residing outside Türkiye
  • Currently residing outside Türkiye for a minimum of 6 months
  • Reporting emotional distress or psychological difficulties related to migration and adaptation to a new country
  • Literate and capable of providing informed consent

You may not qualify if:

  • Current severe psychiatric condition (psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, severe depression, or clinically significant suicide risk)
  • Intellectual disability or cognitive impairment that would prevent informed consent or participation
  • Concurrent intensive psychotherapy (more than one individual psychotherapy session per week), or active psychiatric treatment involving medication changes
  • History of alcohol or substance dependence

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Remote (online delivery via Zoom)

Utrecht, Netherlands

Location

Remote (online delivery via Zoom)

Sivas, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • de Jongh A, de Roos C, El-Leithy S. State of the science: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. J Trauma Stress. 2024 Apr;37(2):205-216. doi: 10.1002/jts.23012. Epub 2024 Jan 28.

    PMID: 38282286BACKGROUND

  • Korn DL, Leeds AM. Preliminary evidence of efficacy for EMDR resource development and installation in the stabilization phase of treatment of complex posttraumatic stress disorder. J Clin Psychol. 2002 Dec;58(12):1465-87. doi: 10.1002/jclp.10099.

    PMID: 12455016BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

DepressionAnxiety DisordersSocial Adjustment

Interventions

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral SymptomsBehaviorMental DisordersSocial Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Desensitization, PsychologicBehavior TherapyPsychotherapyBehavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

  • Derin Kubilay, MA

    Utrecht University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NA
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
SINGLE GROUP
Model Details: Single-arm design; all participants received the same intervention.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 3, 2026

First Posted

September 16, 2026

Study Start

October 23, 2025

Primary Completion

July 23, 2026

Study Completion

July 23, 2026

Last Updated

September 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Individual participant data are not publicly available. The data were collected within a psychotherapeutic treatment context, and participants were assured that all information provided would remain confidential; consent for sharing data with third parties was not obtained. The small sample size (N = 16) and the distribution of participants across five countries further limit the possibility of meaningful de-identification. Requests for access will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the corresponding author and would require prior approval from the institutional ethics committee.

Locations

NL(1)TU(1)