[Article title missing]

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR-IGTP), which was previously used in disaster and war related traumas, on depression and trauma scores in female adolescents with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is the first study with adolescents in this field. For this purpose, 13 female adolescents underwent 3 sessions of Group EMDR protocol. The cases had history of sexual abuse and had been given standard medical treatment for at least 6 months. The Posttraumatic Stress Index and the Children Depression Inventory were administered to the patients before therapy sessions and then 1 month after the sessions were completed. The mean age of the patients was 16 (min: 14 max: 17). 84,6% (n: 11) of the cases had experienced more than one traumatic event before. The mean Child Depression Inventory scores were 19 (± 6.4) before therapy and 11,4 (± 5.5) at 1-month follow-up, Post-Traumatic Stress Index scores were 53.5 (± 7.5) before therapy, and 39.4 (± 8.6) at 1-month follow-up. There was a statistically significant difference in both depression and trauma scores before and after follow-up. Complicated PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that affects lives of individuals in many ways. Although standard psychotropic medication has a partial effect in reducing post-traumatic stress symptoms, this is insufficient. Group therapy has been used mostly in collective traumatic events; it has been shown that can use effective in complex PTSD as well with this study.

Keywords

• emdr
• sexual trauma
• adolescent
• group therapy
• depression