Abstract

GOMEZ, Rudy  and  ASHDOWN, Brien K.. The Effectiveness of EMDR Treatment for Guatemalans with Symptoms of Trauma. Acta de investigación psicol [online]. 2013, vol.3, n.3, pp.1264-1270. ISSN 2007-4719.

Guatemala has a relatively low ratio of psychologists to the general population (6.89 psychologists per 100,000 people), which makes it imperative that the therapeutic treatments utilized by psychologists are successful, effective and efficient. The current study explored the effectiveness and efficiency of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy on lowering the levels of symptoms of psychological trauma among Guatemalan participants. Seven participants with moderate to grave symptoms underwent three sessions of EMDR therapy with a therapist trained and certified in EMDR techniques. The frequency and intensity of symptoms experienced by the participants decreased significantly after the therapy. Over the same time period, symptoms of trauma did not decrease (or increase) in a control group who did not receive EMDR therapy. These results suggest that EMDR could serve as a short-term, successful type of treatment for therapists to employ with clients who manifest symptoms of psychological trauma.

Keywords : Trauma; Evaluation; Treatment; EMDR; Guatemala.

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