Short-term eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to treat children with posttraumatic stress symptoms after single trauma: A case series

Abstract

Background

Traumatic experiences can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For young children, even minor, inconspicuous looking events can lead to posttraumatic stress symptoms. Trauma-focused treatment with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) offers children an age-adapted intervention to help them successfully process traumatic experiences. So far, there has been a lack of well evaluated trauma-focused treatments for young children.

Methods

These case series examine the effectiveness of a short-term treatment with EMDR therapy for children showing PTSD symptoms after experiencing a single incident induced trauma. Five children between 5 and 10 years of age who developed PTSD after a single incident trauma received a manualized EMDR treatment for 6 weeks (mean number of sessions: seven including a mean number of EMDR sessions: 3.4). Posttraumatic stress symptoms were assessed prior to treatment, following treatment and at a 3-month follow-up with standardized instruments for caregivers and children.

Results

PTSD symptoms decreased for all children after completing the treatment from clinical to non-clinical level. Reductions in vegetative hyperarousal, fears and clinging behaviour were achieved. Furthermore, reductions in the parental stress levels, as well as a recovery of everyday routine and everyday stability were observed.

Conclusion

Short-term EMDR treatment appears to be a promising treatment for single incident trauma in young children providing a potentially successful quick and safe psychological treatment for children. Results contribute to the knowledge of feasibility and acceptability of short-term, trauma-focused treatments of children with EMDR. Replication of the results of these case series in larger samples using a randomized controlled design is warranted.

Keywords

EMDR children PTSD short-term treatment single incident trauma

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