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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05319002

Effects of a Group EMDR Intervention on Narrative Complexity and Specificity of Autobiographical Memories: the Hug the Child Study (HTC)

Background and study aims:

The Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Group Protocol with Children (EMDR-GP/C) was first developed by Korkmazlar following the Marmara earthquake in Turkey in 1999 and can be adapted for different populations. The aim of this study is to assess if a EMDR-GP program may help primary school students in improving narrative complexity and specificity of autobiographical memories, as well as their subjective unit of distress (SUD) and validity of cognition (VoC).

Who can participate? Students attending the fourth or fifth year of primary school

What does the study involve? Participants will be randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. Participants in the experimental group will undergo a 3-week EMDR-GP with weekly 60-minute group sessions (3 sessions), while the control group will follow routine daily school activities.

Questionnaires will be used to assess narrative complexity, specificity of autobiographical memories, SUD and VoC before and after the intervention.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? Benefits of participating in the study may include an improvement of narrative complexity, specificity of autobiographical memories, and their SUD and VoC.

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Key information

Conditions

Child, Only Behavior Cognitive Change Communication Distress, Emotional Memory Dysfunction Narration

Age range

9 year–11 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Pisa

Pisa, 56126, Italy

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Children aged 9 to 11 years
  • Children have reasonable comprehension of spoken language and can follow simple instructions
  • Children and their parents are willing to attend all intervention sessions
  • Children and parents have an adequate understanding of Italian

Exclusion criteria

  • Concurrent enrollment in other intervention trials
  • Child regularly practices EMDR intervention, or other therapeutical interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or meditation.

Treatment and study plan

Group EMDR

Behavioral

The eight phases of the adapted group EMDR protocol was administered during each session: 1. Meeting: Explaining the nature of trauma, group rules, name tags, filling in the scales. 2. Preparation: Exploring children's support system, explaining EMDR, safe place, resource exercise, and installation with bilateral stimulation (BLS, butterfly hug or knee tapping). 3. Assessment: Drawing the worst image on a small separate sheet of paper, SUD level, (negative cognition, emotions, body sensations - if possible). 4. Desensitization: It is done with drawing on 4 separate papers with BLS (butterfly hug or knee tapping). 5. Installation: With the healing story written according to the adaptive information processing (AIP) model, the installation is accompanied BLS. 6. Body scan: A positive body state is installed with the relaxation technique. 7. Closure & future template: Strong closure with artwork. 8. Re-evaluation: if possible.

Primary outcomes

  1. Event coding - Pre-intervention

    Time frame: Event coding is measured before the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Event coding is measured using Manual for Coding Events in Self Defining Memories. "Relationship" nominal score means a better outcome

  2. Memory specificity level - Pre-intervention

    Time frame: Memory specificity level is measured before the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Memory specificity level is measured using Classification System and Scoring for Self-defining Autobiographical Memories. "Specific" nominal score means a better outcome

  3. Narrative complexity level - Pre-intervention

    Time frame: Narrative complexity level is measured before the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Narrative complexity level is measured using Coding System for autobiographical Memory Narratives in Psychotherapy. Higher scores mean a better outcome.

  4. Subjective Unit of Distress - Pre-intervention

    Time frame: Subjective Unit of Distress is measured before the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Subjective Unit of Distress is measured using a self-reporting scale with a 0- to 10-point rating scale. Higher scores mean a worse outcome

  5. Validity of Cognition - Pre-intervention

    Time frame: Validity of Cognition is measured before the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Validity of Cognition is measured using a self-reporting scale with a 1- to 7-point rating scale. Higher scores mean a better outcome

  6. Event coding - Post-intervention

    Time frame: Event coding is measured after the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Event coding is measured using Manual for Coding Events in Self Defining Memories. "Relationship" nominal score means a better outcome

  7. Memory specificity level - Post-intervention

    Time frame: Memory specificity level is measured after the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Memory specificity level is measured using Classification System and Scoring for Self-defining Autobiographical Memories. "Specific" nominal score means a better outcome

  8. Narrative complexity level - Post-intervention

    Time frame: Narrative complexity level is measured after the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Narrative complexity level is measured using Coding System for autobiographical Memory Narratives in Psychotherapy. Higher scores mean a better outcome.

  9. Subjective Unit of Distress - Post-intervention

    Time frame: Subjective Unit of Distress is measured after the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Subjective Unit of Distress is measured using a self-reporting scale with a 0- to 10-point rating scale. Higher scores mean a worse outcome

  10. Validity of Cognition - Post-intervention

    Time frame: Validity of Cognition is measured after the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Validity of Cognition is measured using a self-reporting scale with a 1- to 7-point rating scale. Higher scores mean a better outcome

Secondary outcomes

  1. Autobiographical memory definition - Pre-intervention

    Time frame: Autobiographical memory definition is measured before the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Autobiographical memory definition is measured using Coding System for Autobiographical Memory Narratives in Psychotherapy. "Autobiographic" nominal score means a better outcome.

  2. Memory integration level - Pre-intervention

    Time frame: Memory integration level is measured before the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Memory integration level is measured using Classification System and Scoring for Self-defining Autobiographical Memories. "Integrated" nominal score means a better outcome

  3. Autobiographical memory definition - Post-intervention

    Time frame: Autobiographical memory definition is measured after the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Autobiographical memory definition is measured using Coding System for Autobiographical Memory Narratives in Psychotherapy. "Autobiographic" nominal score means a better outcome.

  4. Memory integration level - Post-intervention

    Time frame: Memory integration level is measured after the 3-week group EMDR intervention

    Memory integration level is measured using Classification System and Scoring for Self-defining Autobiographical Memories. "Integrated" nominal score means a better outcome

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pisa

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Randomized Trial on the Effects of a Group EMDR Intervention on Narrative Complexity and Specificity of Autobiographical Memories: a Path Analytic and Supervised Machine Learning Approach

Acronym: HTC

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Apr 8, 2022
Registry last updated
Apr 8, 2022

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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