Randomized Controlled Trial on the EMDR Integrative Group Treatment Protocol for Ongoing Traumatic Stress with Adolescents and Young Adults Patients with Cancer

Amalia Osorio

doi:10.11648/j.ajap.20180704.11

Abstract

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of the EMDR-Integrative Group Treatment Protocol for Ongoing Traumatic Stress (EMDR-IGTP-OTS) in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, depression and anxiety symptoms related to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Twenty-three adolescents and young adults (13 male and 10 female) with different types of cancer (breast, leukemia, lymphoma) and PTSD symptoms related to their diagnosis and cancer treatment met the inclusion criteria. Participants age ranged from 13 to 22 years old (M = 16.71 years). Participant’s time since diagnosis varied from 2006 to 2018. Participants in treatment (N=11) and no-treatment control (N=12) groups completed pre, post, and follow up measurements using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data analysis by repeated measures ANOVA showed that the EMDR-IGTP-OTS was effective in significantly reducing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, with symptoms maintained at 90-day follow-up and with large effect sizes (e.g., d=1.17). A comparison of the treatment and no-treatment control groups showed significantly greater decreases for the treatment group on symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This study suggests that EMDR-IGTP-OTS may be an efficient and effective way to address cancer-related PTSD, depressive, and anxious symptoms in adolescents and young adults.

Highlights

Cancer is the leading cause of death of children and adolescents around the world with approximately 300,000 new cases diagnosis each year
For posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, the results revealed significant changes through time for the treatment group
Experiencing cancer means a peculiar stressor within the infrastructure of PTSD because it involves a potentially chronic and acute debilitating disease

Summary

Introduction

Cancer is the leading cause of death of children and adolescents around the world with approximately 300,000 new cases diagnosis each year. Children with cancer in low-andmiddle-income countries (LMIC) like Mexico, are four times more likely to die of the disease than children of high-income countries. Cancer occurs more frequently in adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 39 years than in younger children. The causes of most childhood cancers are unknown [2]. About 5% of all cancers in children are caused by an inherited genetic mutation (a mutation that can be passed from parents to their children). The diagnosis and treatment of cancer are uniquely traumatic stressors [3] and produce significant

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Conclusion