Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)EQ-EMDR20NCT06991244
EMDR 2.0 Group Therapy for PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety in Earthquake Survivors
A study testing EMDR 2.0 Group Protocol in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Depression, run by Okan University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The objective of this clinical study was to examine whether a brief EMDR 2.0 group intervention could reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety in adult survivors of the 2023 Türkiye earthquake. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Anxiety
- What is being tested?
- EMDR 2.0 Group Protocol
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 58 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 10 Oct 2024to 30 Dec 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 years or older
- Being a survivor of the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes
- Currently residing in a temporary container settlement in Malatya
- Ability to attend all three face-to-face intervention sessions
- Ability to provide informed consent
- Sufficient cognitive and emotional capacity to complete self-report questionnaires
- Basic literacy (reading and writing) in Turkish to understand and complete self-report scales
- Willingness to voluntarily participate in the study
Who cannot join
- Having a current diagnosis of a psychotic disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder with psychotic features)
- History of severe head trauma or neurological condition affecting cognitive capacity
- Active suicidal ideation or risk requiring emergency psychiatric care
- Ongoing substance dependence
- Receiving concurrent trauma-focused psychotherapy during the study period
- Significant hearing, vision, or language impairment interfering with participation
- Inability to attend scheduled sessions or complete follow-up assessments
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Malatya Teknokent Container Settlement
Battalgazi, Malatya, 44000
About this study
Official title: The Effectiveness of EMDR 2.0 Group Intervention on Post-Traumatic Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Symptoms in Earthquake Survivors
The objective of this clinical study was to examine whether a brief EMDR 2.0 group intervention could reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety in adult survivors of the 2023 Türkiye earthquake. The study was conducted face-to-face in a container city in Malatya, one of the regions most severely affected by the disaster. EMDR 2.0 is an enhanced version of standard EMDR therapy that uses working memory taxation techniques to accelerate emotional processing.
The primary research questions included whether EMDR 2.0 group therapy reduces PTSD symptoms in earthquake survivors, and whether it helps decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Participants attended three EMDR 2.0 group sessions in person over the course of one week and completed psychological assessments before the intervention, one week after, and one month after. Verbal disclosure of traumatic memories was not required during the sessions. Researchers used self-report questionnaires to evaluate changes in trauma-related distress, depression, and anxiety. This study contributes to the development of fast, accessible, and field-based psychological support strategies for communities affected by disasters.
Read the detailed description
Following the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes, widespread displacement, loss, and psychological trauma created an urgent need for effective and accessible mental health interventions. This clinical study was developed to address that need by offering a rapid, structured group therapy protocol-EMDR 2.0-to adult survivors residing in a temporary container city in Malatya, a region significantly impacted by the disaster.
EMDR 2.0 is a modified version of traditional Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy. It intensifies working memory taxation through structured, dual-attention tasks and allows for the safe and efficient processing of traumatic memories without requiring verbal disclosure.
The intervention was delivered in the same container units used as temporary housing by survivors, thereby transforming these living spaces into short-term therapeutic settings. Over the course of one week, three group sessions were administered in person. While participants were gathered in a group format, each individual engaged in processing their own traumatic imagery using the EMDR 2.0 protocol.
This approach provided containment and emotional safety within a physically and psychologically shared post-disaster context. Verbal expression of trauma was not required, which minimized the risk of retraumatization and enhanced the accessibility of the intervention for individuals hesitant to disclose.
The study was designed not only to evaluate the effectiveness of EMDR 2.0 in reducing symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety but also to assess the feasibility of implementing this method under real-world post-disaster conditions with limited resources. The findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on scalable trauma interventions suitable for use in field-based, high-need humanitarian settings.
This work underscores the potential of brief, structured group interventions to facilitate emotional recovery when survivors are supported in environments that respect both their privacy and collective experience.
- Conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Anxiety
- Being tested
- EMDR 2.0 Group Protocol
- Keywords
- PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Disaster, Earthquake, EMDR 2.0, Group Intervention
- Medical subject headings
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Depression, Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
EMDR 2.0 Group ProtocolBehavioural
A short-term trauma-focused group protocol adapted from EMDR 2.0, delivered in three sessions over one week, targeting PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms among earthquake survivors. The first session lasted 90 minutes, followed by two 60-minute sessions. The intervention was administered face-to-face in a container city in Malatya, Türkiye. All sessions were conducted by a certified EMDR therapist who had completed advanced EMDR 2.0 training.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| EMDR 2.0 Group | Experimental | Participants in this group received a face-to-face EMDR 2.0 group intervention delivered over three sessions in a container city setting in Malatya, Türkiye, following the 2023 earthquake. Receives: Behavioral: EMDR 2.0 Group Protocol |
| Control Group | No intervention | Participants in this group did not receive any psychological intervention during the study period but completed the same assessments as the intervention group. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
PTSD symptom severity
The primary outcome is the change in PTSD symptoms as measured by the PCL-5, a 20-item self-report questionnaire that assesses PTSD symptoms based on DSM-5 criteria. The scale includes four subscales: intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.
Measured: Assessed at three time points - before the intervention (Day 0), one week after the completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after the completion (approximately Day 30)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Depression symptom severity (DASS-21 Depression subscale)
The DASS-21 Depression subscale evaluates core symptoms such as dysphoria, hopelessness, and devaluation of life. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms.
Measured: Assessed at three time points: before the intervention (Day 0), one week after completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after completion (approximately Day 30)
Anxiety symptom severity (DASS-21 Anxiety subscale)
The DASS-21 Anxiety subscale measures autonomic arousal, skeletal muscle effects, situational anxiety, and subjective experience of anxious affect.
Measured: Assessed at three time points: before the intervention (Day 0), one week after completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after completion (approximately Day 30)
Stress symptom severity (DASS-21 Stress subscale)
The DASS-21 Stress subscale evaluates persistent tension, irritability, and difficulty relaxing. Higher scores indicate elevated stress-related symptoms.
Measured: Assessed at three time points: before the intervention (Day 0), one week after completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after completion (approximately Day 30).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 May 2025
- Study start10 Oct 2024
- Primary completion10 Dec 2024
- Study completion30 Dec 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 58 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Okan University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Çiğdem Kınık, Okan University
- Investigators
- Alisan B Yasar, MD AssocProf, Study chair, Istanbul Gelisim University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06991244
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KINIK EMDR 2.0 EQ
- Acronym
- EQ-EMDR20
- Status last verified
- May 2025
- First submitted
- 19 May 2025
- Last updated
- 31 May 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: This study was conducted as part of a doctoral thesis project. Data sharing was not specified in the ethics committee approval. The sample is small and consists of individuals affected by a major natural disaster, living in a container settlement, making the data highly sensitive. Given the nature of the trauma-focused intervention and the emphasis on confidentiality, informed consent for IPD sharing was not obtained. Therefore, individual participant data will not be shared.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 31 May 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effectiveness of EMDR 2.0 Group Intervention on Post-Traumatic Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Symptoms in Earthquake Survivors
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06991244
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EQ-EMDR20 / KINIK EMDR 2.0 EQ
- Conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Anxiety
- Keywords
- PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Disaster, Earthquake, EMDR 2.0, Group Intervention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 58 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Okan UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 27 May 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The objective of this clinical study was to examine whether a brief EMDR 2.0 group intervention could reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety in adult survivors of the 2023 Türkiye earthquake. The study was conducted face-to-face in a container city in Malatya, one of the regions most severely affected by the disaster. EMDR 2.0 is an enhanced version of standard EMDR therapy that uses working memory taxation techniques to accelerate emotional processing.
The primary research questions included whether EMDR 2.0 group therapy reduces PTSD symptoms in earthquake survivors, and whether it helps decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Participants attended three EMDR 2.0 group sessions in person over the course of one week and completed psychological assessments before the intervention, one week after, and one month after. Verbal disclosure of traumatic memories was not required during the sessions. Researchers used self-report questionnaires to evaluate changes in trauma-related distress, depression, and anxiety. This study contributes to the development of fast, accessible, and field-based psychological support strategies for communities affected by disasters.
Detailed description
Following the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes, widespread displacement, loss, and psychological trauma created an urgent need for effective and accessible mental health interventions. This clinical study was developed to address that need by offering a rapid, structured group therapy protocol-EMDR 2.0-to adult survivors residing in a temporary container city in Malatya, a region significantly impacted by the disaster.
EMDR 2.0 is a modified version of traditional Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy. It intensifies working memory taxation through structured, dual-attention tasks and allows for the safe and efficient processing of traumatic memories without requiring verbal disclosure.
The intervention was delivered in the same container units used as temporary housing by survivors, thereby transforming these living spaces into short-term therapeutic settings. Over the course of one week, three group sessions were administered in person. While participants were gathered in a group format, each individual engaged in processing their own traumatic imagery using the EMDR 2.0 protocol.
This approach provided containment and emotional safety within a physically and psychologically shared post-disaster context. Verbal expression of trauma was not required, which minimized the risk of retraumatization and enhanced the accessibility of the intervention for individuals hesitant to disclose.
The study was designed not only to evaluate the effectiveness of EMDR 2.0 in reducing symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety but also to assess the feasibility of implementing this method under real-world post-disaster conditions with limited resources. The findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on scalable trauma interventions suitable for use in field-based, high-need humanitarian settings.
This work underscores the potential of brief, structured group interventions to facilitate emotional recovery when survivors are supported in environments that respect both their privacy and collective experience.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| EMDR 2.0 Group | Experimental | Behavioral: EMDR 2.0 Group ProtocolParticipants in this group received a face-to-face EMDR 2.0 group intervention delivered over three sessions in a container city setting in Malatya, Türkiye, following the 2023 earthquake. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –Participants in this group did not receive any psychological intervention during the study period but completed the same assessments as the intervention group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Age 18 years or older
- Being a survivor of the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes
- Currently residing in a temporary container settlement in Malatya
- Ability to attend all three face-to-face intervention sessions
- Ability to provide informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Having a current diagnosis of a psychotic disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder with psychotic features)
- History of severe head trauma or neurological condition affecting cognitive capacity
- Active suicidal ideation or risk requiring emergency psychiatric care
- Ongoing substance dependence
- Receiving concurrent trauma-focused psychotherapy during the study period
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| EMDR 2.0 Group ProtocolA short-term trauma-focused group protocol adapted from EMDR 2.0, delivered in three sessions over one week, targeting PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms among earthquake survivors. The first session lasted 90 minutes, followed by two 60-minute sessions. The intervention was administered face-to-face in a container city in Malatya, Türkiye. All sessions were conducted by a certified EMDR therapist who had completed advanced EMDR 2.0 training. | Behavioural | EMDR 2.0 Group |
Primary outcome
PTSD symptom severity
Time frame: Assessed at three time points - before the intervention (Day 0), one week after the completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after the completion (approximately Day 30)
The primary outcome is the change in PTSD symptoms as measured by the PCL-5, a 20-item self-report questionnaire that assesses PTSD symptoms based on DSM-5 criteria. The scale includes four subscales: intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.
3 secondary outcomes
Depression symptom severity (DASS-21 Depression subscale)
Time frame: Assessed at three time points: before the intervention (Day 0), one week after completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after completion (approximately Day 30)
Anxiety symptom severity (DASS-21 Anxiety subscale)
Time frame: Assessed at three time points: before the intervention (Day 0), one week after completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after completion (approximately Day 30)
Stress symptom severity (DASS-21 Stress subscale)
Time frame: Assessed at three time points: before the intervention (Day 0), one week after completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after completion (approximately Day 30).
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 31 May 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. This study was conducted as part of a doctoral thesis project. Data sharing was not specified in the ethics committee approval. The sample is small and consists of individuals affected by a major natural disaster, living in a container settlement, making the data highly sensitive. Given the nature of the trauma-focused intervention and the emphasis on confidentiality, informed consent for IPD sharing was not obtained. Therefore, individual participant data will not be shared.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Alisan B Yasar, MD AssocProf study chair
Istanbul Gelisim University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing EMDR 2.0 Group Protocol in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Depression, run by Okan University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 May 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
PTSD symptom severity (time frame: Assessed at three time points - before the intervention (Day 0), one week after the completion of the third session (approximately Day 7), and one month after the completion (approximately Day 30)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 May 2025.