Abstract
This study explored the effects of the EMDR Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR-IGTP) on child survivors of the earthquakes that struck Umbria, a region of central Italy, on August 24th and on October 26th 2016. Three hundred and thirty-two children from the town of Norcia and nearby severely disrupted villages received 3 cycles of EMDR-IGTP. The Emotion Thermometers (ET-5) and the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-13) were administered before (T0) and about 1 week after the conclusion of the third cycle (T3) of EMDR-IGTP. At T3, older children showed a reduction of distress and anger, whereas younger children reported an increase on these domains; moreover, older children reported a greater reduction of anxiety than younger ones. A greater reduction of distress, anxiety, and need for help was evidenced in females, whereas a greater improvement in depressive symptoms was evidenced in males. The effects of the EMDR-IGTP treatment on post-traumatic symptoms were particularly evident in older children, compared to younger ones, and marginally greater in females than in males; moreover, a greater improvement was found in children who had received a timelier intervention, than in those who received delayed treatment. These results provide further evidence for the utility of EMDR-IGTP in dealing with the extensive need for mental health services in mass disaster contexts. Also, these data highlight the importance of providing EMDR-IGTP in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, to contribute significantly in restoring adaptive psychological functioning in children, especially in older ones.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 862 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | JUN |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 4 2018 |
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Keywords
- Children
- Earthquake
- EMDR-IGTP
- Emotional problems
- Mass disaster
- Post-traumatic reactions
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)
Cite this
Dealing with the aftermath of mass disasters : A field study on the application of EMDR integrative group treatment protocol with child survivors of the 2016 Italy earthquakes. / Trentini, Cristina; Lauriola, Marco; Giuliani, Alessandro; Maslovaric, Giada; Tambelli, Renata; Fernandez, Isabel; Pagani, Marco.
In: Frontiers in Psychology, Vol. 9, No. JUN, 862, 04.06.2018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Dealing with the aftermath of mass disasters
T2 - A field study on the application of EMDR integrative group treatment protocol with child survivors of the 2016 Italy earthquakes
AU - Trentini, Cristina
AU - Lauriola, Marco
AU - Giuliani, Alessandro
AU - Maslovaric, Giada
AU - Tambelli, Renata
AU - Fernandez, Isabel
AU - Pagani, Marco
PY - 2018/6/4
Y1 - 2018/6/4
N2 - This study explored the effects of the EMDR Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR-IGTP) on child survivors of the earthquakes that struck Umbria, a region of central Italy, on August 24th and on October 26th 2016. Three hundred and thirty-two children from the town of Norcia and nearby severely disrupted villages received 3 cycles of EMDR-IGTP. The Emotion Thermometers (ET-5) and the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-13) were administered before (T0) and about 1 week after the conclusion of the third cycle (T3) of EMDR-IGTP. At T3, older children showed a reduction of distress and anger, whereas younger children reported an increase on these domains; moreover, older children reported a greater reduction of anxiety than younger ones. A greater reduction of distress, anxiety, and need for help was evidenced in females, whereas a greater improvement in depressive symptoms was evidenced in males. The effects of the EMDR-IGTP treatment on post-traumatic symptoms were particularly evident in older children, compared to younger ones, and marginally greater in females than in males; moreover, a greater improvement was found in children who had received a timelier intervention, than in those who received delayed treatment. These results provide further evidence for the utility of EMDR-IGTP in dealing with the extensive need for mental health services in mass disaster contexts. Also, these data highlight the importance of providing EMDR-IGTP in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, to contribute significantly in restoring adaptive psychological functioning in children, especially in older ones.
AB - This study explored the effects of the EMDR Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR-IGTP) on child survivors of the earthquakes that struck Umbria, a region of central Italy, on August 24th and on October 26th 2016. Three hundred and thirty-two children from the town of Norcia and nearby severely disrupted villages received 3 cycles of EMDR-IGTP. The Emotion Thermometers (ET-5) and the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-13) were administered before (T0) and about 1 week after the conclusion of the third cycle (T3) of EMDR-IGTP. At T3, older children showed a reduction of distress and anger, whereas younger children reported an increase on these domains; moreover, older children reported a greater reduction of anxiety than younger ones. A greater reduction of distress, anxiety, and need for help was evidenced in females, whereas a greater improvement in depressive symptoms was evidenced in males. The effects of the EMDR-IGTP treatment on post-traumatic symptoms were particularly evident in older children, compared to younger ones, and marginally greater in females than in males; moreover, a greater improvement was found in children who had received a timelier intervention, than in those who received delayed treatment. These results provide further evidence for the utility of EMDR-IGTP in dealing with the extensive need for mental health services in mass disaster contexts. Also, these data highlight the importance of providing EMDR-IGTP in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, to contribute significantly in restoring adaptive psychological functioning in children, especially in older ones.
KW - Children
KW - Earthquake
KW - EMDR-IGTP
KW - Emotional problems
KW - Mass disaster
KW - Post-traumatic reactions
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85048068525&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85048068525&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00862
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00862
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85048068525
VL - 9
JO - Frontiers in Psychology
JF - Frontiers in Psychology
SN - 1664-1078
IS - JUN
M1 - 862
ER -