Victory Hills in South Iceland: USING EMDR THERAPY WITH A VULNERABLE POPULATION IN THE SETTING OF A FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER

Victory Hills in South Iceland:

USING EMDR THERAPY WITH A VULNERABLE POPULATION IN THE SETTING OF A FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER (USING EMDR THERAPY WITH A VULNERABLE POPULATION IN THE SETTING OF A FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER)

Jóhanna Kristin Jónsdóttir & Elísabet Lorange

 

Translated by: Specialist Psychologist Gizem Pozam

 

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY

1- To assess the effectiveness of individual standard EMDR therapy in treating PTSD in victims of gender-based violence.

 

2- To understand the clients and the severity of their trauma.

 

3- To understand why women drop out of school and to find solutions to prevent school dropout.

 

 

VICTORY HILLS (VH) is a regional community project based on multi-agency collaboration throughout South Iceland (SI). It is owned and run by the local Soroptimist Club and is firmly rooted in the Soroptimists' commitment to working for the benefit of women at the local level. Victory Hills has 22 External Partners and provides cooperation and coordination between the healthcare system, the Police and Local Social Services, which was previously lacking in South Iceland. All services are free of charge.

 

A total of 25 women met the inclusion criteria for this study (PCL-5 score ≥28), (mean age 46.9; range 25-75). The women received standard EMDR treatment in 12 to 24 individual sessions (median 16). Due to treatment dropout, only 15 women (60%) completed treatment. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the PCL-5 scale for DSM-IV, and the DASS-42 questionnaire was used to measure symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in all participants before (T1) and after (2) treatment among the 15 who completed treatment.

 

 

Results showed a reduction of 28.1 in the mean PCL-5 score between assessments (T1: M=49.0, SD=11.6, T2: M=20.9, SD=6.6). There was a reduction of 13.2 in the mean DASS depression score (T1: M=23.6, SD=9.3, T2: M=10.4, SD=7.2), a reduction of 12.1 in the mean DASS anxiety score (TI: M=18.2, SD=10.1, T2: M=6.1, SD=7.6) and a reduction of 15.4 in the mean DASS stress score (T1: M=27.4, SD=6.7, T2: M=12.0, SD=5.5).

 

There were three reasons for dropping out of therapy: 1) social instability, 2) mental health problems and 3) change of address. The results indicate that EMDR therapy helps women at Victory Hills overcome their trauma, reduce their distress and support their overall well-being. Many women report increased self-confidence and a more positive outlook on life. Further publication of the findings is planned.

 

 

SOCIAL VARIABLES AT EMDR INTAKE

 

Nearly all of the 25 women had received extensive assistance from various services before coming to Victory Hills:

Hospital/Health clinic/Vocational rehabilitation center

Sexual abuse center/Women's shelter Reykjavik

Social services/Child protection/police

Psychologists/Psychiatrists/Counseling

Reykjalundur Rehabilitation Center

Reykjavil Family Justice Center

 

 

Employment status at intake:

Five were employed, four were retired

Of all the women, 16 (64%) were temporarily or permanently out of the workforce due to disability or rehabilitation

The women who were unable to work came from all age groups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Victory Hills in South Iceland:

USING EMDR THERAPY WITH A VULNERABLE POPULATION IN THE SETTING OF A FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER

Jóhanna Kristin Jónsdóttir & Elísabet Lorange

 

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY

1- To assess the effectiveness of the Individual Standard EMDR Therapy in treating PTSD in victims of gender based violence.

 

2- To understand the clientele and the seriousness of their trauma.

 

3- To understand the women's reasons for drop out and to find solutions for prevention of drop-out.

 

 

VICTORY HILLS (VH) is a regional community project based on multi-agency cooperation all over South Iceland (SI). It is owned and run by the local Soroptimist Club and firmly anchored in the commitment of Soroptimists to work for the benefit of women at the local level. Victory Hills has 22 External Partners and provides cooperation and coordination between the Health care system, the Police and Local Social Services that before was lacking in South Iceland. All services are free of charge.

A total of 25 women met the criteria for participation in this study (PCL-5 score ≥28), (mean age 46.9; range 25-75) The women received standard EMDR treatment in one-on-one sessions at 12 to 24 sessions (median 16). Due to dropout only 15 women (60%) finished the treatment. PTSD symptoms were evaluated with the PCL-5 scale for DSM-IV and the DASS-42 questionnaire was used to measure depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in all subjects at pre (T1) and post (2) treatment in the 15 who completed treatment.

 

 

Results showed a reduction in PCL-5 mean score of 28.1 between measures (T1: M=49.0, SD=11.6, T2: M=20.9, SD=6,6). A reduction in DASS depression mean score of 13.2 (T1: M=23.6, SD=9.3, T2: M=10.4, SD=7.2), a reduction in DASS anxiety mean score of 12.1 (TI: M=18.2, SD=10.1, T2: M=6.1, SD=7.6) and a reduction in DASS stress mean score of 15.4 (T1: M=27.4, SD=6.7, T2: M=12.0, SD=5.5).

Reasons for drop-out were threefold, 1) social instability, 2) mental health issues and 3) change of address. The results indicate that EMDR therapy is helping women at Victory Hills to overcome their trauma, decrease their distress and support their overall well being. Many women express an increase in confidence and have gained more positive outlook on life. Further publication of findings are planned.

 

 

SOCIAL VARIABLES UPON EMDR INTAKE

 

Of 25 women, nearly all had received extensive assistance from various services prior to Victory Hills:
Hospital/Health clinic/Work rehabilitation center
Center for sexual abuse/Women's shelter Reykjavik
Social services/Child protection/police
Psychologists/Psychiatrist/Counseling

Reykjalundur Rehabilitation Center

Family Justice Center Reykjavil

 

 

Work status at intake: Five were employed, four retired
Of all the women 16 (64%) were temporarily or permanently out of the labor force due to disability or rehabilitation
The women who were unable to work came from all age groups