Ricerc@Sapienza

This study explored the effects of the EMDR Integrative Group Treatment Protocol
(EMDR-IGTP) on child survivors of the earthquakes that struck Umbria, a region of
central Italy, on August 24th and on October 26th 2016. Three hundred and thirty-two
children from the town of Norcia and nearby severely disrupted villages received 3 cycles
of EMDR-IGTP. The Emotion Thermometers (ET-5) and the Children’s Revised Impact
of Event Scale (CRIES-13) were administered before (T0) and about 1 week after the
conclusion of the third cycle (T3) of EMDR-IGTP. At T3, older children showed a reduction
of distress and anger, whereas younger children reported an increase on these domains;
moreover, older children reported a greater reduction of anxiety than younger ones.
A greater reduction of distress, anxiety, and need for help was evidenced in females,
whereas a greater improvement in depressive symptoms was evidenced in males. The
effects of the EMDR-IGTP treatment on post-traumatic symptoms were particularly
evident in older children, compared to younger ones, and marginally greater in females
than in males; moreover, a greater improvement was found in children who had received a
timelier intervention, than in those who received delayed treatment. These results provide
further evidence for the utility of EMDR-IGTP in dealing with the extensive need for mental
health services in mass disaster contexts. Also, these data highlight the importance of
providing EMDR-IGTP in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, to contribute
significantly in restoring adaptive psychological functioning in children, especially in older
ones.