PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress DisorderNCT07206381
Effects of EMDR on Psychological Symptoms and EEG Findings in Trauma-Exposed Individuals
A study testing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Group Therapy in people with PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression, run by Istanbul Galata University.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- Conditions the study is for
- PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms
- What is being tested?
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Group Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 4 Mar 2026to 15 Aug 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 to 50 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 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)
Who cannot join
- Current diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or a neurological disorder
- Receiving psychotherapy
- Inability to attend sessions regularly due to logistical or cognitive limitations
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: EMDR Group Therapy for Earthquake-Exposed Trauma Survivors: A Randomized Trial of Psychological and QEEG Outcomes
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.
Read the detailed description
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.
- Conditions
- PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms, Sleep Quality, Quality of Life
- Being tested
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Group Therapy
- Keywords
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Anxiety, Sleep quality, quality of life, earthquake, QEEG
- Medical subject headings
- Combat Disorders, Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Group TherapyBehavioural
Sessions conducted in groups with one therapist and one co-therapist; each session follows the EMDR standard protocol.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| EMDR Group | Experimental | Participants will receive 5-7 sessions of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) group therapy, delivered face-to-face by trained therapists, in line with the standard EMDR protocol. EEG measurements and psychological scales will be administered before and after the intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Group Therapy |
| Waitlist Control | No intervention | Participants in this arm will not receive any active psychotherapy intervention during the study period. They will undergo baseline and post-test EEG recordings and psychological assessments at the same time intervals as the experimental group. For ethical reasons, they will be offered EMDR therapy after the study is completed if requested. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms (PCL-5)
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.
Measured: Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)
Change in Quantitative EEG (QEEG) Power Spectral Measures
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.
Measured: Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change in Quality of Life (SF-36)
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.
Measured: Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)
Change in Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DASS-21)
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.
Measured: Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)
Change in Sleep Quality (PSQI)
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.
Measured: Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Oct 2025
- Study start4 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Aug 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress DisorderStudies 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
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned in parallel to either an EMDR intervention group or a waitlist control group. The EMDR group will receive 5-7 sessions of standardized group therapy, while the control group will not receive any intervention during the study period but will be offered EMDR after study completion
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul Galata University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Çiğdem Kınık, Istanbul Galata University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07206381
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- EMDR-EEG-TR-2025
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 30 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: De-identified EEG data and questionnaire scores will be shared upon reasonable request after study completion, in compliance with ethical approval.
Publications
Colvonen PJ, Glassman LH, Crocker LD, Buttner MM, Orff H, Schiehser DM, Norman SB, Afari N. Pretreatment biomarkers predicting PTSD psychotherapy outcomes: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017 Apr;75:140-156. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.027. Epub 2017 Jan 28.
PubMed 28143760van der Kolk BA, Spinazzola J, Blaustein ME, Hopper JW, Hopper EK, Korn DL, Simpson WB. A randomized clinical trial of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), fluoxetine, and pill placebo in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: treatment effects and long-term maintenance. J Clin Psychiatry. 2007 Jan;68(1):37-46. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v68n0105.
PubMed 17284128Jokic-Begic N, Begic D. Quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) in combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nord J Psychiatry. 2003;57(5):351-5. doi: 10.1080/08039480310002688.
PubMed 14522608Butt M, Espinal E, Aupperle RL, Nikulina V, Stewart JL. The Electrical Aftermath: Brain Signals of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Filtered Through a Clinical Lens. Front Psychiatry. 2019 May 31;10:368. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00368. eCollection 2019.
PubMed 31214058Pagani M, Di Lorenzo G, Verardo AR, Nicolais G, Monaco L, Lauretti G, Russo R, Niolu C, Ammaniti M, Fernandez I, Siracusano A. Neurobiological correlates of EMDR monitoring - an EEG study. PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e45753. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045753. Epub 2012 Sep 26.
PubMed 23049852Pagani M, Di Lorenzo G, Monaco L, Daverio A, Giannoudas I, La Porta P, Verardo AR, Niolu C, Fernandez I, Siracusano A. Neurobiological response to EMDR therapy in clients with different psychological traumas. Front Psychol. 2015 Oct 27;6:1614. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01614. eCollection 2015.
PubMed 26579006
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- EMDR Group Therapy for Earthquake-Exposed Trauma Survivors: A Randomized Trial of Psychological and QEEG Outcomes
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07206381
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EMDR-EEG-TR-2025
- Conditions
- PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms, Sleep Quality, Quality of Life
- Keywords
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Anxiety, Sleep quality, quality of life, earthquake, QEEG
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul Galata UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 4 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 3 Oct 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.
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.
Detailed description
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned in parallel to either an EMDR intervention group or a waitlist control group. The EMDR group will receive 5-7 sessions of standardized group therapy, while the control group will not receive any intervention during the study period but will be offered EMDR after study completion
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| EMDR Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Group TherapyParticipants will receive 5-7 sessions of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) group therapy, delivered face-to-face by trained therapists, in line with the standard EMDR protocol. EEG measurements and psychological scales will be administered before and after the intervention. |
| Waitlist Control | No intervention | –Participants in this arm will not receive any active psychotherapy intervention during the study period. They will undergo baseline and post-test EEG recordings and psychological assessments at the same time intervals as the experimental group. For ethical reasons, they will be offered EMDR therapy after the study is completed if requested. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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)
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Current diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or a neurological disorder
- Receiving psychotherapy
- Inability to attend sessions regularly due to logistical or cognitive limitations
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Group TherapySessions conducted in groups with one therapist and one co-therapist; each session follows the EMDR standard protocol. | Behavioural | EMDR Group |
Primary outcome
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.
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.
3 secondary outcomes
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)
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)
Change in Sleep Quality (PSQI)
Time frame: Baseline (Pre-intervention, T1; Week 0) and Post-intervention (T2; Week 6, after completion of EMDR intervention)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Jan 2026.
- Background: PubMed 28143760Colvonen PJ, Glassman LH, Crocker LD, Buttner MM, Orff H, Schiehser DM, Norman SB, Afari N. Pretreatment biomarkers predicting PTSD psychotherapy outcomes: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017 Apr;75:140-156. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.027. Epub 2017 Jan 28.
- Background: PubMed 17284128van der Kolk BA, Spinazzola J, Blaustein ME, Hopper JW, Hopper EK, Korn DL, Simpson WB. A randomized clinical trial of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), fluoxetine, and pill placebo in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: treatment effects and long-term maintenance. J Clin Psychiatry. 2007 Jan;68(1):37-46. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v68n0105.
- Background: PubMed 14522608Jokic-Begic N, Begic D. Quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) in combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nord J Psychiatry. 2003;57(5):351-5. doi: 10.1080/08039480310002688.
- Background: PubMed 31214058Butt M, Espinal E, Aupperle RL, Nikulina V, Stewart JL. The Electrical Aftermath: Brain Signals of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Filtered Through a Clinical Lens. Front Psychiatry. 2019 May 31;10:368. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00368. eCollection 2019.
- Background: PubMed 23049852Pagani M, Di Lorenzo G, Verardo AR, Nicolais G, Monaco L, Lauretti G, Russo R, Niolu C, Ammaniti M, Fernandez I, Siracusano A. Neurobiological correlates of EMDR monitoring - an EEG study. PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e45753. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045753. Epub 2012 Sep 26.
- Background: PubMed 26579006Pagani M, Di Lorenzo G, Monaco L, Daverio A, Giannoudas I, La Porta P, Verardo AR, Niolu C, Fernandez I, Siracusano A. Neurobiological response to EMDR therapy in clients with different psychological traumas. Front Psychol. 2015 Oct 27;6:1614. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01614. eCollection 2015.
- ORCID profile of Principal InvestigatorLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. De-identified EEG data and questionnaire scores will be shared upon reasonable request after study completion, in compliance with ethical approval.
Related trials for PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Recruiting
NightWare and Cardiovascular Health in Women With PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Cardiovascular Diseases
Not yet recruiting
A Transdiagnostic Sleep Health Intervention for Veterans With PTSD
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Not yet recruitingPhase 3
Women Who Are Victims of Violence: Treatment of PTSD Through Reactivation of Traumatic Memories Using Propranolol
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD
RecruitingPhase 4
The Effects of Orexin Antagonism on Fear Extinction in PTSD
Insomnia, PTSD
Recruiting
Advancing Skills Through Consultation, Education, and Novel Technologies
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
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.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Group Therapy in people with PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression, run by Istanbul Galata University.
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 4 inclusion and 3 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Çiğdem Kınık, PhD (+905308777181, psk.cigdem@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
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 study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07206381, which also lists 6 linked publications.
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 30 Jan 2026.