Efficacy of the Adapted Integrative Group EMDR Therapy Protocol for Ongoing Traumatic Stress in Adolescents after a Traumatic Event

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a frequent consequence of traumatic experiences, particularly among adolescents, whose emotional and cognitive immaturity increases their vulnerability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Group Integrative Protocol with EMDR Therapy in reducing PTSD symptoms in secondary school students from southeastern Spain. A total of 235 students from a high school in a town in Spain were initially assessed. Only 11 of them met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD according to the Revised PTSD Symptom Severity Scale (EGS-R), and thus were included in the intervention. The intervention consisted of three psychoeducational sessions and several group EMDR therapy sessions led by trained psychologists. PTSD symptoms, dissociative symptoms, and functional impairment were assessed before and after the intervention using validated instruments. A statistically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms was observed following the application of the protocol. These results are consistent with previous studies that have evaluated the use of EMDR in similar populations. Although the sample size was small, the findings suggest that the Group Integrative Protocol with EMDR Therapy may be an effective therapeutic tool for adolescents exposed to severe traumatic events in school settings. Further research with larger samples and control groups is recommended to confirm these findings.