Trauma Psycho Social Support Plus and EMDR therapy for children and adolescents in a post-conflict setting: Mental health training in Kurdistan.

Abstract

This paper describes the implementation of a pilot project in Kurdistan / Northern Iraq on the use of EMDR in children in post-conflict settings. A 4-field scheme aimed at patient stabilisation was taught to social workers for the application with children and adolescents in Northern Iraq. If possible, the stabilisation was followed by procedures aimed at memory reprocessing or modification within the eightphase EMDR protocol and (in all cases) with further care. An initial assessment of the children and adolescents themselves revealed significant traumatic burden. The subjective distress was reduced when the rescue and the present situation were reflected age-appropriately with the help of pictures and sketches. For six children and adolescents, a post-stabilisation treatment within EMDR therapy was offered. The first results in this very small sample were encouraging providing support for a fullscale controlled study.