EMDR Group Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Migrants

Posttraumatic stress symptoms are highly prevalent among migrants who have experienced potentially traumatic events during their life course and migration trajectories. These symptoms may negatively affect psychological functioning, adaptation, and participation in educational and social contexts. The present randomized controlled trial evaluates the effectiveness and feasibility of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Integrative Group Treatment Protocol for Ongoing Traumatic Stress (EMDR-IGTP-OTS) in reducing posttraumatic stress symptoms and psychological distress among adult migrants attending an adult education center (CPIA Salerno) in Italy.

The EMDR-IGTP-OTS is a structured group intervention based on the principles of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), adapted for individuals exposed to ongoing traumatic stress and for group-based delivery. The intervention is designed to facilitate the processing of traumatic memories and reduce trauma-related emotional distress through standardized therapeutic procedures conducted in a group format.

Participants are randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving EMDR-IGTP-OTS or to a control condition. The study examines whether participation in the intervention is associated with greater improvements in posttraumatic stress symptoms and psychological distress compared with the control condition. Assessments are conducted before the intervention, after completion of the intervention, and at follow-up to evaluate changes over time.

The primary endpoints are between-group differences in post-intervention posttraumatic stress symptoms assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Short PTSD Rating Interview (SPRINT). Secondary endpoints include: (a) between-group differences in change scores on the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-10 (CORE-10), a measure of global psychological distress; (b) treatment completion, defined as attendance at ≥80% of scheduled EMDR-IGTP-OTS sessions among participants assigned to the intervention condition; and (c) protocol adherence, assessed through therapist session logs documenting fidelity to each phase of the intervention protocol.

The primary hypothesis is that participants receiving EMDR-IGTP-OTS will demonstrate greater reductions in posttraumatic stress symptoms compared with participants in the control condition. Secondary hypotheses concern improvements in global psychological distress and the feasibility of delivering the intervention in an adult education setting, including treatment completion and protocol adherence.

Inclusion criteria

• Enrollment in courses at CPIA Salerno (adult education center).
• Age ≥16 years.
• Sufficient Italian or English language proficiency to complete study procedures.
• Provision of informed consent.
• Clinically significant posttraumatic stress symptoms, defined as an Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) score ≥24 or a Short PTSD Rating Interview (SPRINT) score ≥14 at baseline.

Exclusion criteria

• Current self-harm behavior or suicidal or homicidal ideation.
• Substance abuse.
• Psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders, or organic mental disorders.
• Lack of adequate structural or functional support.
• Significant cognitive impairment affecting participation in study procedures.