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NCT Number: NCT07206381

Effects of EMDR on Psychological Symptoms and EEG Findings in Trauma-Exposed Individuals

This study will examine the effects of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) group therapy on adults who experienced the April 2025 Silivri earthquake in Turkey. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an EMDR intervention group or a waitlist control group. Psychological symptoms will be measured using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Quantitative EEG (QEEG) recordings will also be collected before and after the intervention to assess changes in brain activity related to emotional regulation and trauma processing. The goal of the study is to evaluate whether EMDR produces both clinical and neurophysiological improvements in trauma-exposed individuals.

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Key information

Conditions

PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Anxiety Disorders Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Combat Disorders Depression Dyssomnias Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Quality of Life Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders Sleep Quality Sleep Wake Disorders Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Traumatic experiences often lead to persistent psychological symptoms such as posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, which significantly impair quality of life. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based intervention for trauma-related disorders, and growing evidence suggests that it may also produce measurable changes in brain activity. This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effects of EMDR group therapy on both clinical outcomes and neurophysiological markers in adults exposed to the April 2025 Silivri earthquake in Turkey.

Forty participants meeting inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to either an EMDR intervention group (20 participants) or a waitlist control group (20 participants). The intervention group will receive 5-7 sessions of standardized EMDR group therapy, delivered face-to-face by trained therapists. Quantitative EEG (QEEG) recordings will be collected at baseline and after the intervention to assess changes in spectral power, frontal alpha asymmetry, and coherence patterns. Clinical outcomes will be measured with validated self-report instruments assessing PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, stress, sleep quality, and overall health-related quality of life.

This study is designed to test the hypothesis that EMDR group therapy produces significant improvements in both psychological symptoms and EEG biomarkers compared to a waitlist control. By integrating subjective self-report and objective neurophysiological data, the trial aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of EMDR's therapeutic effects in trauma-exposed populations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Meeting DSM-5 criteria for posttraumatic stress symptoms following the April 2025 Silivri earthquake
  • Age between 18 and 50 years
  • Either medication-free for at least 1 month or on a stable dose of psychotropic medication
  • No medical contraindications for EEG recording (e.g., no epilepsy, no metal implants)

Exclusion criteria

  • Current diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or a neurological disorder
  • Receiving psychotherapy
  • Inability to attend sessions regularly due to logistical or cognitive limitations

Treatment and study plan

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Group Therapy

Behavioral

Sessions conducted in groups with one therapist and one co-therapist; each session follows the EMDR standard protocol.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms (PCL-5)

    Time frame: Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)

    The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is a 20-item self-report scale measuring the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms according to DSM-5 criteria. Scores range from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating more severe PTSD symptoms. Change in total score from baseline (pre-intervention) to post-intervention will be assessed.

  2. Change in Quantitative EEG (QEEG) Power Spectral Measures

    Time frame: Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)

    EEG recordings will be collected using the Neuron-Spectrum-5 device according to the international 10-20 system. Power spectral analyses will be performed across frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, high beta). Changes in absolute and relative power from baseline to post-intervention will be examined.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Quality of Life (SF-36)

    Time frame: Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)

    The Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) is a 36-item measure of health-related quality of life, covering physical functioning, role limitations, pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, and emotional well-being. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores reflecting better quality of life. Change in domain scores will be assessed from baseline to post-intervention.

  2. Change in Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DASS-21)

    Time frame: Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)

    The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) is a 21-item self-report instrument measuring emotional distress across three subscales (depression, anxiety, stress). Scores range from 0 to 42 for each subscale, with higher scores indicating greater severity. Change in scores will be assessed from baseline to post-intervention.

  3. Change in Sleep Quality (PSQI)

    Time frame: Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)

    The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a 19-item self-report questionnaire assessing sleep quality and disturbances over the past month. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. Change in total score will be assessed from baseline to post-intervention.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Çiğdem Kınık, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905308777181

Önder Kavakçı, MD. Prof Dr

CONTACT

[email protected]

+90 530 419 91 92

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul Galata University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

EMDR Group Therapy for Earthquake-Exposed Trauma Survivors: A Randomized Trial of Psychological and QEEG Outcomes

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Oct 3, 2025
Registry last updated
Jan 30, 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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