This study aims to compare the effectiveness of two established psychotherapeutic
interventions, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), in alleviating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms
among individuals affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Turkey. These
earthquakes significantly impacted 11 cities and affected approximately 10 million
people, leaving many survivors with severe psychological trauma, including PTSD.
Study Objectives:
The primary objective is to determine whether EMDR or CBT is more effective in reducing
PTSD symptoms as measured by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Secondary objectives
include examining the sustainability of symptom reduction six months post-treatment and
assessing treatment adherence and participant satisfaction.
Study Design:
Type: Open-label, three-arm, randomized controlled trial (RCT) Participants: 108 adults
aged 18-65 years diagnosed with PTSD using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5)
and PCL-5.
Randomization: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:
EMDR Therapy Group CBT Therapy Group Control Group (No Intervention) Intervention
Delivery: Weekly, 50-minute, one-on-one therapy sessions conducted online via Microsoft
Teams over 24 weeks.
Intervention Details:
EMDR Therapy Group:
Structured sessions following standard EMDR protocols, including phases such as
assessment, preparation, desensitization, installation, and re-evaluation.
Delivered by trained EMDR therapists: Dr. Metin Çınaroğlu and Dr. Selami Varol Ülker.
CBT Therapy Group:
Structured sessions focusing on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns,
behavioral activation, and developing coping strategies.
Delivered by trained CBT therapists: Dr. Eda Yılmazer and Clinical Psychologist Ceren
Odabaşı.
Control Group:
Participants in this group will not receive any therapeutic intervention but will undergo
the same assessments at designated time points for comparative analysis.
Outcome Measures:
Primary Outcome Measure: Reduction in PTSD symptom severity, measured by the PCL-5 at
four assessment points:
Before therapy (Baseline) Mid-therapy (After the 12th session) Post-therapy (After the
24th session) Six months post-therapy (Follow-up)
Supervision and Quality Control:
Supervision: Overall study supervision will be conducted by Prof. Dr. Gökben Hızlı Sayar.
Quality Assurance: An external committee will monitor therapy adherence and session
quality throughout the intervention phase.
Ethical Considerations:
Approved by the Üsküdar University Ethical Board (Protocol Number: xxxx123). All
participants will provide written informed consent and publication consent forms.
Psychiatric clearance will be obtained to ensure participants are fit for study
participation.
Data Collection and Analysis:
Data will be collected at four key time points using standardized assessment tools.
Statistical analysis will include both within-group and between-group comparisons to
determine intervention efficacy.
Timeline:
Participant Recruitment: January 1, 2025 - March 30, 2025 Therapy Start Date: March 15,
2025 Therapy End Date: October 30, 2025 Follow-Up Assessment: Six months after therapy
completion
Expected Outcomes:
The study is expected to generate robust evidence regarding the comparative efficacy of
EMDR and CBT in treating PTSD symptoms in earthquake survivors. The findings will offer
valuable insights for developing evidence-based guidelines for trauma therapy in
disaster-affected populations and may inform future disaster mental health intervention
strategies.
This research addresses a significant gap in understanding the effectiveness of
psychological interventions in post-disaster settings and aims to contribute to improving
long-term mental health outcomes for affected individuals.