Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology

EMDR treatment for a sexual rape victim: A case report

Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology 2011; 21: -
Keywords : Trauma, rape, EMDR
Read: 669 Published: 22 March 2021

Almost anyone who has had a traumatic experience might show intense stress symptoms. It is possible to see post-traumatic stress symptoms especially among people who have been raped. Recently, efforts to provide counseling for rape victims have become common. The EMDR treatment focuses on the sensorial units of the memory (emotional, cognitive, and physical) to reach the disturbing events, accelerate functions, and improve the learning process. It is thought that EMDR treatment relieves post-traumatic stress symptoms for rape victims. In this case 90 minute EMDR sessions were applied. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory-I (STAI-I), and Impact of Events Scale- Revision (IES-R) were completed before and after treatment and 1 month later in a follow up session. It was observed that the stress symptoms of the patient decreased shortly after the EMDR treatment and 1 month later in the follow up session. Although the study was conducted with one individual, in patients with sexual trauma, the EMDR application might be beneficial.

EISSN 2475-0581