Early treatment of rape victims: Presentation of an emergency EMDR protocol

Abstract

This research aims to test the effectiveness of a new form of early treatment for the consequences of rape. Using several emergency EMDR protocols such as Shapiro's (2009) R-TEP (Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol) and Kutz, Risnik and Dekel's (2008) Modified Abridged EMDR Protocol, as well as the practice of psychological debriefing, we treated in one session 17 female rape victims within 24 to 78 hours after their aggression. Follow-up was done after 4 weeks and 6 months during which we measured the effects of this psychological support on posttraumatic symptomatology and psychological distress, as well as on certain indicators of the sexuality of these victims compared to their prior sexuality. The results show, after one session, an interesting reduction in the different measures which remains stable 4 weeks and 6 months after the treatment, as does the way in which the victims appear to take an interest in their sexuality. If this type of emergency intervention is not a complete substitution for in-depth psychotherapy, its contribution and pertinence in the context of immediate treatment offers interesting perspectives for treating victims of sexual aggression.