The Effectiveness of EMDR Therapy as a Trauma-Focused Intervention for Reducing the Severity of PTSD Symptoms in Jordan: A Quasi-Experimental Trial (Experimental)

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Brief Summary

This study examines whether Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can reduce the severity of symptoms in adults experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Jordan. PTSD can develop after exposure to distressing or traumatic life events and may cause symptoms such as intrusive memories, avoidance, sleep problems, anxiety, and emotional distress.

A total of 70 adult participants with moderate to severe PTSD symptoms were enrolled. Participants were assigned to one of two groups: an EMDR therapy group or a waitlist control group. Individuals in the EMDR group received structured therapy sessions delivered by a trained mental-health professional, while those in the waitlist group did not receive therapy during the study period but were offered treatment after the study ended.

PTSD symptom severity was measured before treatment, immediately after the therapy sessions, and again one month later. The goal of the study was to determine whether EMDR therapy leads to meaningful and lasting reductions in PTSD symptoms compared with no immediate treatment.

The findings of this research are intended to help healthcare providers and policymakers understand the value of EMDR as a non-pharmacological, evidence-based treatment option for individuals experiencing trauma-related distress, and to support improvements in mental-health services and trauma-informed care in Jordan.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: EMDR

Detailed Description

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental-health condition that may develop after exposure to traumatic or highly distressing events and is associated with significant functional, emotional, and physical consequences. Evidence-based psychological therapies are essential to reduce symptom burden and improve quality of life, particularly in settings where access to specialized trauma services may be limited.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, a structured, trauma-focused psychotherapeutic approach, in reducing the severity of PTSD symptoms among adults in Jordan. The investigation uses a quasi-experimental design with an intervention group receiving EMDR sessions and a waitlist control group receiving no immediate therapeutic intervention during the study period. Symptom severity is assessed at baseline, immediately after completion of the intervention, and at a one-month follow-up to examine both immediate and short-term outcomes.

EMDR therapy is delivered by a licensed mental-health professional trained in the standardized EMDR protocol. The intervention focuses on processing traumatic memories through guided recall combined with bilateral stimulation techniques (such as eye movements), with the aim of decreasing emotional distress and strengthening adaptive cognitive responses. Participants in the waitlist control group are offered the same therapeutic sessions after completion of outcome assessments to ensure equitable access to care.

The study seeks to generate empirical evidence regarding the clinical utility, feasibility, and short-term sustainability of EMDR therapy in a Middle Eastern context. Findings are intended to inform mental-health practitioners, nursing professionals, and healthcare decision-makers about the potential role of EMDR as a non-pharmacological, trauma-informed treatment option for adults experiencing moderate to severe PTSD symptoms.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 70
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Jordan
  • Aljubeiha
    • Amman, Aljubeiha, Jordan, 11942
      • Faculty of Nursing

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Adults aged 18 years or older

Probable PTSD or moderate-to-severe post-traumatic stress symptoms based on the screening instrument used in the study

Exposure to at least one traumatic or highly stressful life event within the previous six months

No prior receipt of EMDR therapy

Willingness and ability to provide informed consent and participate in therapy sessions and assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

Acute cognitive or intellectual disability that would interfere with comprehension of study procedures or questionnaires

Significant visual impairment or visual pathology that would prevent full engagement with the visual components of EMDR therapy

Inability to communicate effectively by phone for scheduled assessments

Refusal or inability to provide informed consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: EMDR Therapy Intervention; Participants in this arm received Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy delivered by a licensed psychiatric mental-health professional trained in the standardized EMDR protocol. The intervention consisted of structured individual sessions (approximately 90 minutes each) conducted over several weeks. Sessions followed the established EMDR phases, including history taking, preparation, desensitization with bilateral stimulation, installation of positive cognitions, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at one-month follow-up.	Behavioral: EMDR; Participants received Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, a structured trauma-focused psychotherapy delivered individually by a licensed psychiatric mental-health professional trained in the standardized EMDR protocol. Sessions lasted approximately 90 minutes and were conducted three times per week over the intervention period. The protocol followed the established EMDR phases, including history taking, preparation, identification of target memories, bilateral stimulation (e.g., guided eye movements or alternating taps), installation of adaptive cognitions, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. Outcomes were measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at one-month follow-up.
No Intervention: Waitlist Control; Participants in this arm did not receive active psychological intervention during the study period and continued with usual care, if any. They completed the same outcome assessments at baseline, immediately after the intervention period for the EMDR group, and at one-month follow-up. After completion of all study assessments, participants in the waitlist control arm were offered the opportunity to receive EMDR therapy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms	Severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms measured using the Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen (PC-PTSD) questionnaire at baseline (T0), immediately post-intervention (T1), and one-month follow-up (T2).	Baseline, immediately after intervention, and 1-month follow-up.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Al-Quds University
• Investigators: Study Director: Ayman M. Hamdan-Mansour, Professor, The University of Jordan

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 15, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 25, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): February 14, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 14, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 14, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 20, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 14, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: PTSD; EMDR; SEVERITY OF SYMPTOMS; JORDAN
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Combat Disorders; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Desensitization, Psychologic; Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
• Other Study ID Numbers: JU-EMDR-PTSD-2023-2348; ClinicalTrials.gov (Registry Identifier: ClinicalTrials)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be publicly shared due to privacy, confidentiality, and ethical considerations related to the sensitive mental-health information collected. Data may be made available in a de-identified and aggregated form upon reasonable request to the corresponding author and subject to institutional ethics approval and data-use agreements.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No