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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07776769

EMDR Grief Protocol for Traumatic Grief After Earthquake-Related Loss

This pilot randomized controlled study evaluated the effectiveness of the EMDR Grief Protocol in adults who experienced the loss of a loved one in the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. A total of 78 adults participated in the study and were randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group received three individual sessions of the EMDR Grief Protocol, while the control group received no intervention during the study period. The study evaluated changes in traumatic grief symptoms, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and difficulties in emotional processing before and after the intervention.

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Key information

Conditions

Traumatic Grief Combat Disorders Emotional Processing Mental Disorders Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD Prolonged Grief Disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Şişli Municipality

Istanbul, şişli, 34381, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This study was designed as a pilot randomized controlled trial with pre-test and post-test assessments. Participants were adults aged 18 to 65 years who experienced the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes and lost at least one loved or close person due to the earthquakes.

A total of 78 eligible participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=39) or control group (n=39). The intervention consisted of three 60-minute individual EMDR Grief Protocol sessions. The sessions addressed past memories related to the loss, current triggers and difficulties in daily functioning, and future situations associated with adapting to life following the loss. The control group received no intervention during the study period.

Traumatic grief symptoms, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and emotional processing difficulties were assessed before and after the intervention using the Traumatic Grief Inventory-Self Report (TGI-SR), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and Emotional Processing Scale (EPS-25), respectively.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Aged 18 years or older. Experienced the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes and lost a loved one.

Literate. No active mental disorder such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. No cognitive impairment, such as severe memory loss, brain damage, or dementia. Had not received EMDR therapy following the earthquake. Voluntarily agreed to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • Illiteracy. Presence of a physical or mental disorder that negatively affects judgment. Having received EMDR therapy following the earthquake

Treatment and study plan

EMDR Grief Protocol

Behavioral

The EMDR Grief Protocol consisted of three 60-minute individual sessions administered once per week. Session 1 (Past) focused on processing the traumatic moment of death or learning about the death using the standard EMDR protocol based on the Adaptive Information Processing model. Session 2 (Present) focused on current triggers and disruptions in daily functioning. Session 3 (Future) focused on future challenging situations and adaptation to life in the absence of the loved one. All sessions were conducted by a certified EMDR therapist.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Assessed by the PCL-5

    Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (within 1 week after the final intervention session)

    Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms were assessed using the Turkish version of the 20-item PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Higher scores indicate greater PTSD symptom severity.

  2. Change in Traumatic Grief Symptoms Assessed by the TGI-SR

    Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (within 1 week after the final intervention session)

    Traumatic grief symptoms were assessed using the Turkish version of the 18-item Traumatic Grief Inventory-Self Report (TGI-SR). Higher scores indicate greater severity of grief symptoms.

  3. Change in Emotional Processing Difficulties Assessed by the EPS-25

    Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (within 1 week after the final intervention session)

    Emotional processing difficulties were assessed using the Turkish version of the 25-item Emotional Processing Scale (EPS-25). The scale assesses five dimensions: suppression, signs of unprocessed emotion, unregulated emotions, avoidance, and impoverished emotional experience. Higher total scores indicate greater emotional processing difficulties.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul Bilgi University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of the EMDR Grief Protocol on Traumatic Grief in Individuals Who Experienced an Earthquake: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Aug 20, 2026
Registry last updated
Aug 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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