Investigation of the Efficacy of EMDR in Earthquake Trauma: Case Report

Year 2020, Volume: 49 Issue: 1, 477 - 500, 28.04.2020

Gamze Mukba Selami Tanrıverdi Fuat Tanhan

Abstract

EMDR is an intervention technique mainly used in psychological trauma cases. In this study, the case study of qualitative research methods has been used; the aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) technique in PTSD of the earthquake. Eight-stage EMDR intervention has been implemented in the presented case. In order to investigate the effectiveness of EMDR intervention quantitatively related to the traumatic symptoms of the client and to determine the difference between the pre-test and post-test scores, “Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms Scale” has been used. In the presented case after the EMDR intervention, it has been observed that the client’s both the anxiety and fear levels have been decreased as well as the dysfunctional thoughts about the earthquake have been disappeared and the PTSD symptoms have been greatly reduced. According to Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms Scale scores it has been observed that there are differences between the scores of subscales as “intrusive thoughts”, “physiological arousal” and “cognitive avoidance”. Based on the case presented in this study, it can be said that EMDR may be a short-term and effective intervention in PTSD cases caused by the trauma of natural disasters such as earthquakes.

Keywords

Earthquake, PTSD, EMDR, Case Report

Deprem Travmasında EMDR'nin Etkinliğinin Araştırılması: Olgu Sunumu

Abstract

EMDR ağırlıklı olarak ruhsal travma olgularında kullanılan bir müdahale tekniğidir. Bu araştırmada nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden olgu deseninden yararlanılmış olup; sunulan olguda depremden kaynaklı TSSB'de Göz Hareketleri ile Duyarsızlaştırma ve Yeniden İşleme (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing-EMDR) tekniğinin uygulanabilirliğini ortaya koyma amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma kapsamındaki sunulan olguda sekiz aşamalı EMDR protokolü uygulanmıştır. Danışanın travmatik belirtilerine ilişkin EMDR müdahalesinin etkililiğinin nicel olarak da incelenebilmesi ve müdahale öncesi ve müdahale sonrası travma sonrası stres belirleme puanları arasındaki farklılığın ortaya konulması amacıyla “Travma Sonrası Stres Belirleme Ölçeği”nden yararlanılmıştır. EMDR müdahalesi sonrasında sunulan olgudaki danışanda hem kaygı ve korku düzeylerinde azalma, hem de depreme yönelik işlevsel olmayan düşüncelerin ortadan kalktığı ve TSSB belirtilerinin büyük oranda azalma olduğu görülmüştür. Travma Sonrası Stres Belirleme Ölçeği puanlarına ilişkin “tekrarlayan düşünceler”, “fizyolojik uyarılma” ve “zihinsel kaçınma” alt ölçek puanlarında ön-test ve son-test arasında farklılıklar olduğu gözlenmiştir. Bu çalışmada sunulan olgudan hareketle, deprem gibi doğal afet yaşanılan travmanın neden olduğu TSSB olgularında EMDR’nin kısa ve etkili bir müdahale olabileceği söylenebilir.

Keywords

Deprem, TSSB, EMDR, Olgu Sunumu

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