EMDR Flash Group Protocol for Earthquake Survivors (FlashGP-EQ)

June 23, 2026 updated by: Çiğdem Kınık, Istanbul Galata University

Preliminary Effects of an Early EMDR Flash Group Intervention on Traumatic Stress, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms Among Earthquake Survivors: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated the preliminary effects of the online EMDR Flash Group Protocol among adults affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Türkiye. Participants were randomly assigned to either the EMDR Flash Group Protocol or a waitlist control group. The primary outcome was change in posttraumatic stress symptoms measured by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Secondary outcomes included depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 3-month follow-up.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The Kahramanmaraş earthquakes of February 2023 affected millions of people and were associated with substantial psychological distress, including posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Early psychological interventions may help reduce acute distress and improve posttraumatic outcomes following disaster exposure.

This pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted approximately one month after the earthquakes. Adults affected by the disaster were recruited online and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the EMDR Flash Group Protocol intervention or a waitlist control condition. The intervention was delivered online via Zoom by trained mental health professionals using a standardized protocol consisting of two group sessions.

The primary objective was to evaluate the preliminary effects of the EMDR Flash Group Protocol on posttraumatic stress symptoms. Secondary objectives were to evaluate changes in depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Outcomes were assessed using self-report measures at baseline and at 3-month follow-up.

This study was conducted as a pilot trial to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the intervention following a large-scale natural disaster.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

410

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Istanbul
      • Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Istanbul Galata University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18 years or older
  • Present in the earthquake-affected region during the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes
  • Directly experienced the earthquake or were affected through disaster-related exposure
  • Ability to participate in online sessions
  • Access to the necessary technological equipment and internet connection
  • Ability to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Intellectual disability
  • Current or past psychotic disorder (e.g., schizophrenia)
  • Bipolar disorder
  • History of severe head trauma
  • Inability to participate in the online intervention format

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: EMDR Flash Group Protocol
Participants received the online EMDR Flash Group Protocol delivered by trained mental health professionals. The intervention consisted of two group sessions lasting approximately 60 to 90 minutes and was conducted via Zoom approximately one month after the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes.
Behavioral: EMDR Flash Group Protocol
The EMDR Flash Group Protocol was delivered online via Zoom by trained mental health professionals. The intervention consisted of two group sessions lasting approximately 60-90 minutes and was administered approximately one month after the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes.
No Intervention: Waitlist Control
Participants assigned to the waitlist control group did not receive the EMDR Flash Group Protocol during the study period and completed the same assessment schedule as the intervention group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in PTSD Symptoms (PCL-5 Total Score)
Time Frame: Assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and at 3-month follow-up.
Change in posttraumatic stress symptom severity measured by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) total score from baseline to 3-month follow-up.
Assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and at 3-month follow-up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Depression Symptoms (DASS-21 Depression)
Time Frame: Assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and at 3-month follow-up.
Change in depression symptom severity measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Depression subscale from baseline to 3-month follow-up.
Assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and at 3-month follow-up.
Change in Anxiety Symptoms (DASS-21 Anxiety)
Time Frame: Assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and at 3-month follow-up.
Change in anxiety symptom severity measured by the DASS-21 Anxiety subscale from baseline to 3-month follow-up.
Assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and at 3-month follow-up.
Change in Stress Symptoms (DASS-21 Stress)
Time Frame: Assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and at 3-month follow-up.
Change in depression symptom severity measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Depression subscale from baseline to 3-month follow-up.
Assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and at 3-month follow-up.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul Galata University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 2, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 20, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

June 25, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 23, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 29, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 29, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 23, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • EMDRFLASHGP-2023-RCT

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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