Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to Facilitate Posttraumatic Growth: A Prospective Clinical Pilot Study on Ferry Disaster Survivors

AbstractObjectiveMeaning and Purpose (MaP) therapy aims to enhance meaning-based coping through a life review that focuses on the value and worth of the person, key relationships, sources of fulfillment, roles, and future priorities in living life out fully. We sought to test the feasibility and acceptability of a six-session model of MaP therapy against a wait-list control cohort in a pilot study seeking effect sizes on measures of adaptation.MethodWe randomized patients with advanced cancer to MaP therapy or wait-list control, with measures administered at baseline and after 6–8 weeks. Wait-list patients could then crossover to receive therapy, with further measures collected postintervention. Adherence to the manualized model was sustained through weekly supervision and fidelity coding of recorded sessions. We used generalized estimating equations to control for baseline and any correlation of data.ResultFrom 134 eligible participants, 57 (43%) consented, and 40 of 45 (89%) offered therapy completed 6 sessions. Key barriers to consenting patients were poor health (15 refusers and 4 withdrawals) and death intervened in 6 participants. MaP therapy generated adequate effect sizes in posttraumatic growth (new possibilities, appreciation of life, and personal strength) and life attitudes (choices and goal seeking) to permit calculation of power for a formal randomized, controlled trial.Significance of resultsDelivery of this model of existentially oriented therapy is feasible and acceptable to patients. A properly powered randomized controlled trial is justified to examine the efficacy of this intervention.

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Does trauma type relate to posttraumatic growth after war? A pilot study of young Iraqi war survivors living in Turkey

Transcultural Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/1363461515612963 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 110-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

C. Kılıç ◽

K. M. Magruder ◽

M. M. Koryürek

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Iraqi War ◽

War Survivors ◽

Trauma Type

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Psychophysiological Correlates of the Spontaneous K-Complex

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1978.46.1.271 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 271-287 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Robert Scott ◽

Werner Karle ◽

Alan Switzer ◽

Joseph Hart ◽

Richard Corriere ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Eye Movement ◽

Significant Interaction ◽

Intensive Therapy ◽

Major Study ◽

Before And After ◽

Psychophysiological Correlates

A pilot study covering three nights and two studies were carried out to investigate the psychophysiological correlates of the spontaneous K-complex in relation to intense psychotherapy. The pilot study produced evidence that the K-complex was not consistent and stable within or across nights and that its variability might be sensitive to psycho-emotional influences. In the first major study 2 subjects were recorded non-consecutively over a 3-wk. period during experience of intensive therapy while in the second 6 subjects were studied before and after two therapeutic sessions. Results indicated that nights after therapy differed significantly from baseline nights and a significant interaction took place between subjects and therapy on one or more variables of the K-complex and several eye movement indices. Some relationship to length of time in therapy was also noted. These findings were interpreted to indicate a possible relationship between complete expression of feeling and the occurrence of phasic events in the sleeping EEG.

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