The EMDR Protocol for Recent Critical Incidents: Brief Report of an Application in a Human Massacre Situation

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 156-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Jarero ◽  
Susana Uribe

This ongoing field study was conducted subsequent to the discovery of clandestine graves with 218 bodies recovered in the Mexican state of Durango in April 2011. A preliminary psychometric assessment was conducted with the 60 State Attorney General employees who were working with the corpses to establish a triage criterion and provide baseline measures. The Impact of Event Scale (IES) and the short posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rating interview were administered, and the 32 individuals whose scores indicated moderate-to-severe posttraumatic stress and PTSD symptoms were treated with the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) Protocol for Recent Critical Incidents (EMDR-PRECI). Participants were assigned to two groups: immediate treatment (severe scores) and waitlist/delayed treatment (moderate scores). Each individual client session lasted between 90 and 120 minutes. Results showed that one session of EMDR-PRECI produced significant improvement on self-report measures of posttraumatic stress and PTSD symptoms for both the immediate treatment and waitlist/delayed treatment groups. This study provides preliminary evidence in support of the protocol’s efficacy in a natural setting of a human massacre situation to a group of traumatized adults working under extreme stressors. More controlled research is recommended to evaluate further the protocol’s efficacy.

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Jarero ◽  
Susana Uribe

This article reports the follow-up results of our field study (Jarero & Uribe, 2011) that investigated the application of the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) Protocol for Recent Critical Incidents (EMDR-PRECI) in a human massacre situation. A single individual session was provided to 32 forensic personnel of the State Attorney General in the Mexican state of Durango who were working with 258 bodies recovered from clandestine graves. Pre-post results showed significant improvement for both immediate treatment and waitlist/delayed treatment groups on the Impact of Event Scale (IES) and Short PTSD Rating Interview (SPRINT). In this study, we report the follow-up assessment, which was conducted, at 3 and 5 months posttreatment. Follow-up scores showed that the original treatment results were maintained, with a further significant reduction of self-reported symptoms of posttraumatic stress and PTSD between posttreatment and follow-up. During the follow-up period, the employees continued to work with the recovered corpses and were continually exposed to horrific emotional stressors, with ongoing threats to their own safety. This suggests that EMDR-PRECI was an effective early intervention, reducing traumatic stress for a group of traumatized adults continuing to work under extreme stressors in a human massacre situation. It appears that the treatment may have helped to prevent the development of chronic PTSD and to increase psychological and emotional resilience.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 82-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Jarero ◽  
Lucina Artigas ◽  
Marilyn Luber

This randomized, controlled group field study was conducted subsequent to a 7.2 earthquake in North Baja California, Mexico. Treatment was provided according to continuum of care principles. Crisis management debriefing was provided to 53 individuals. After this, the 18 individuals who had high scores on the Impact of Event Scale (IES) were then provided with the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) Protocol for Recent Critical Incidents (EMDR-PRECI), a single-session modified EMDR protocol for the treatment of recent trauma. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: immediate treatment group and waitlist/delayed treatment group. There was no improvement in the waitlist/delayed treatment group, and scores of the immediate treatment group participants were significantly improved, compared with waitlist/delayed treatment group paticipants. One session of EMDR-PRECI produced significant improvement on symptoms of posttraumatic stress for both the immediate-treatment and waitlist/delayed treatment groups, with results maintained at 12-week follow-up, even though frightening aftershocks continued to occur frequently. This study provides preliminary evidence in support of the protocol’s efficacy in a disaster mental health continuum of care context. More controlled research is recommended to evaluate further the efficacy of this intervention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. e515
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Parobkiewicz ◽  
Michał Ziarko ◽  
Julia Krawczyk ◽  
Jagna Jasielska

Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among persons involved in road accidents and paramedics. Little is known about similarity or difference of PTSD symptoms between these two groups involved in accident in voluntary and involuntary way. Material and Methods. Persons involved in road accidents (N = 78) and paramedics (N = 106) completed the Polish version of the Impact of Event Scale–Revised.Results. The percentage of those who reported PTSD symptoms was similar and insignificant among persons involved in road accidents (56%) and among paramedics (45%). A significant difference (p < 0,01) was observed between these groups, however. The total PTSD, intrusions, and avoidance were higher for persons involved in road accidents.Conclusions. Victims, perpetrators, and helpers in road accidents were at a similar risk of PTSD. Peritraumatic interventions are recommended for all these groups.


2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 416-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahito Fushimi

AbstractIntroductionFirefighters are often exposed to stressful duty-related events and may experience extreme trauma. Such work-related stress can result in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is therefore important to understand the traumatic stress experienced by firefighters in the course of their work and to promote appropriate intervention when necessary.MethodsData were collected from 118 workers (all males) in the Fire Department of Akita City, Japan who had participated in the Great East Japan Earthquake (Higashi Nihon Dai-Shinsai) rescue effort from March 11 through March 31, 2011. Study participants completed self-report surveys at three time intervals: shortly after return from the rescue effort, approximately two weeks after return from the rescue effort, and approximately one month after return from the rescue effort. The surveys included questions of demographics, physical complaints, medical history, and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) Japanese version, in which a cut-off point of 24/25 was set to screen for PTSD.ResultsA total of 117 participants undertook the initial survey with a range of 0-36 points obtained on the IES-R score. For the initial survey, two of 117 participants scored ≥25 points. For the intermediate survey phase, a range of 0-19 was obtained for 116 participants and for the final survey phase, a range of 0-11 points was obtained for 114 participants.ConclusionContrary to expectations, the survey results showed no participant was judged to require prompt consultation for PTSD. The firefighters who participated in this study were in good mental health. However, more detailed study is required to ascertain whether these findings adequately and clearly reflect the mental health status of these participants.FushimiM. Posttraumatic stress in professional firefighters in Japan: rescue efforts after the Great East Japan Earthquake (Higashi Nihon Dai-Shinsai). Prehosp Disaster Med.2012;27(5):1-3.


Author(s):  
Maria Sarapultseva ◽  
Alena Zolotareva ◽  
Igor Kritsky ◽  
Natal’ya Nasretdinova ◽  
Alexey Sarapultsev

The spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection has increased the risk of mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), and healthcare workers (HCWs) are at greater risk than other occupational groups. This observational cross-sectional study aimed to explore the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD among dental HCWs in Russia during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The survey was carried out among 128 dental HCWs from three dental clinics of Ekaterinburg, Russia. The mean age of the sample was 38.6 years. Depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21); PTSD was assessed using the PTSD Symptom Scale-Self-Report (PSS-SR); subjective distress was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). The results indicated that 20.3–24.2% HCWs had mild to extremely severe symptoms of psychological distress, and 7.1–29.7% had clinical symptoms of PTSD. No differences between females and males were revealed. HCWs working directly with patients had significantly higher levels of PTSD symptoms and the risk of PTSD development compared to those working indirectly, whereas older HCWs had significantly higher levels of both psychological distress and PTSD symptoms compared to younger HCWs. Thus, dental HCWs are at high risk for psychological distress and PTSD symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 1168-1172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Bevilacqua ◽  
Francesco Morini ◽  
Antonio Zaccara ◽  
Chiara De Marchis ◽  
Annabella Braguglia ◽  
...  

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in parental couples of newborn requiring early surgery at 6 and 12 months after birth. Study Design A longitudinal study was set up from January 2014 to June 2015. As a measure of PTSD, we used the Italian version of the Impact of Event Scale—Revised (IES-R). Results Thirty-four couples form the object of the study. At 6 months, half of mothers (52.9%) and fathers (44.1%) reported traumatic stress symptoms above the clinical cutoff. Percentages remained stable at 12 months. When parental gender and length of follow-up were compared with two-factor analysis of variance, none had an impact on IES-R score, nor an interaction between these factors was found. A significant correlation of IES-R total score was present within the couple both at 6 and 12 months (6 months—r: 0.6842, p < 0.0001 and 12 months—r: 0.4045, p = 0.0177). Conclusion Having a child with a repaired malformation represents a complex prolonged stressful situation with persistent burden for both parents who are at high risk of developing PTSD symptoms.


2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 534-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Wallen ◽  
Wendy Chaboyer ◽  
Lukman Thalib ◽  
Debra K. Creedy

Background Admission to intensive care is often a sudden and unexpected event precipitated by a life-threatening condition, 2 determinants thought to influence the development of posttraumatic stress disorder. Objectives To identify the frequency of acute symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and to describe factors predictive of these symptoms in patients 1 month after discharge from intensive care. Methods In this prospective cohort study, all patients meeting the inclusion criteria during the study period were invited to participate. Participants completed the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and demographic and clinical data were accessed from an intensive care unit database. Results During a 9-month period, 114 of 137 patients who met the inclusion criteria consented to participate in the study, and 100 (88%) completed it. The mean total score on the Impact of Event Scale-Revised was 17.8 (SD, 13.4; possible range, 0–88). A total of 13 participants (13%) scored higher than the cutoff score for clinical posttraumatic stress disorder. Neither sex nor length of stay was predictive of acute symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. In multivariate analysis, the only independent predictor of symptoms was age. Patients younger than 65 years were 5.6 times (95% confidence interval, 1.17–26.89) more likely than those 65 years and older to report symptoms. Conclusion The rate of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder 1 month after discharge from intensive care was relatively low. Consistent with findings of previous research, being younger than 65 years was the only independent predictor of symptoms.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Holz ◽  
Johanna Lass-Hennemann ◽  
Tanja Michael

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe mental disorder characterized by distressing intrusions. Since not all traumatized individuals develop PTSD, it is important to understand its underlying risk factors. So far, several psychological and physiological risk factors have been identified. However, these factors have rarely been examined together. An excellent tool to assess analogue PTSD in a prospective manner is the trauma film paradigm. This study examined relevant psychological and physiological factors in 60 healthy participants before, during and after the presentation of a “traumatic” film clip, including rumination, dissociation, anxiety, mood, cortisol and psychophysiology measures. Moreover, we assessed intrusions and administered the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R) for one week following the “trauma”. Surprisingly, the only significant predictor for both intrusion frequency and IES-R was rumination about the film (state rumination). Furthermore, intrusion distress was predicted by both state rumination and an increase in anxiety after the film clip. Our study highlights the relevance of rumination in PTSD. Further well designed clinical studies with PTSD patients should investigate these key variables prospectively to confirm our findings.


2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atle Dyregrov ◽  
Magne Raundalen

A total of 1695 Norwegian adolescents answered a questionnaire concerning how they perceived and reacted to the threat of war during the 1999 Kosovo war and the 2003 Iraq war. Based on previous research and clinical experience the following hypotheses were formed: a) The Kosovo war, being in closer proximity to Norway, will result in more reactions than the Iraq war; b) There will be more communication between adolescents and adults following the Iraq war than following the Kosovo war, due to education by psychologists via the media in the intervening period; c) Girls will evidence more reactions than boys, in line with previous work; d) Adolescents who score above cut-off on the Impact of Event Scale will report less communication with friends and parents, in line with psychosocial theories of posttraumatic stress and previous empirical findings. The first three hypotheses were generally supported, but findings regarding hypothesis (d) were mixed. It is believed that a more open communicative climate has developed in families and schools following increased attention by professionals and media to the coverage of wars and disasters in the media. Mild reactions to the two wars suggest adolescent resilience. Professionals can play an important role in disseminating information on how such events can be handled by parents, professionals and society at large.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document