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Farrell, D. P., Keenan, P. S., Ali, M. W., S. Bilal, Tareen, S. M., L. Keenan, & Rana, M. H. (2011). Training Pakistani mental health workers in EMDR in the aftermath of the 2005 earthquake in Northern Pakistan. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. doi:10.1080/09515070.2011.589599

Derek Farrell: School of Health and Population Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom, B15 2TT, E-mail: D.P.Farrell@bham.ac.uk

Abstract

The primary objective of this article will focus predominantly upon EMDR as an evidence-based treatment intervention for psychological trauma. It outlines in particular an EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Training Programme that took place in Abbotabad and Rawalpindi in response to the Pakistan earthquake, 2005, in helping to train teams of mental health workers in EMDR so as to enable them to treat psychological trauma symptoms of earthquake survivors. Results from two preliminary studies will be presented outlining the effectiveness of EMDR with two psychological trauma populations in Pakistan. This article also discusses the rationale for widening the trainings to different parts of Pakistan to include other significant traumas currently affecting some parts of the Pakistani population.

Hasanovic, M., Pajevic, I., Morgan, S., & Kravic, N. (2011). P03-140 - EMDR training for mental health therapists in postwar Bosnia-Herzegovina who work with psycho-traumatized population for increasing their psychotherapy capacities. European Psychiatry, 26, Supplement 1(0), 1309. doi:10.1016/S0924-9338(11)73014-0

M. Hassanovic. Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hove, UK

Abstract

Introduction
After war 1992–1995 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH), whole population was highly psych-traumatized. Mental health therapists had no enough capacities to meet needs of population. They are permanently in need to increase their psychotherapy capacities. EMDR is a powerful, state-of-the-art treatment. Its effectiveness and efficacy has been validated by extensive research. National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended it as one of two trauma treatments of choice.

Aim
To describe non profit, humanitarian approach in sharing skills of Eye Movement Reprocessing and Desensitization (EMDR) to mental health therapists in BH from Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) of UK & Ireland.

Method
Authors described educational process considering the history of idea and its realization through training levels and process of supervision.

Results
Highly skilled and internationally approved trainers from HAP UK & Ireland came four times to Psychiatry Department of University Clinical Center Tuzla in BH where they provided completed EMDR training for 24 trainees: neuro-psychiatrists, residents of neuro-psychiatry and psychologists from eight different health institutions from six different cities in BH. After finishing training process, trainees are obliged to practice their EMDR therapy in daily practice with real clients under the supervision process of HAP UK & Ireland trainers to become certified EMDR therapists. Regarding big physical distance between supervisors and trainees, supervision will be realized via Skype Internet technology

Conclusion
Psychotherapy capacities of mental health psychotherapists in postwar BH could be increased with enthusiastic help of EMDR trainers from HAP UK & Ireland.

Mehrotra, S., & Geng, W. E. I. (2011). EMDR in India. Journal of Xihua University (Philosophy & Social Sciences), 2. doi:CNKI:SUN:CDSF.0.2011-02-000

Sushma Mehrotra, Translator: AIDS Control Department, Center for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Dili, East Timor Island. W E I Geng, Center for Mental Health Services, Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610039, China.

Abstract

After the earthquake in January 2001 in India, 40 trained EMDR Therapists participated in helping more than 1600 people. The symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were observed both in children and adults; no gross disintegration of personality was noted. Through analyzing children's drawings, the study finds the relationship between individual emotions and traumatic impact on their psychological health. Although people who had suffered greater destruction and severe loss demonstrated greater emotional upheaval, people in the large residential areas mostly intact from the earthquake felt more insecure than those in severely destructed areas, due to the threat of further destruction.

Stergiopoulos, E., Cimo, A., Cheng, C., Bonato, S., & Dewa, C. S. (2011). Interventions to improve work outcomes in work-related PTSD: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 11(1), 838. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-838

Carolyn S Dewa, Centre for Research on Employment and Workplace Health, Centre for Addition and MentalHealth, 455 Spadina Avenue, Suite 300, Toronto, M5S 2G8, Canada. E-mail: carolyn_dewa@camh.net

Full text available at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/838

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder acquired at work can be debilitating both for workers and their employers. The disorder can result in increased sick leave, reduced productivity, and even unemployment. Furthermore, workers are especially unlikely to return to their previous place of employment after a traumatic incident at work because of the traumatic memories and symptoms of avoidance that typically accompany the disorder. Therefore, intervening in work-related PTSD becomes especially important in order to get workers back to the workplace.

METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted using Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, and Web of Science. The articles were independently screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by a quality assessment of all included articles.

RESULTS: The systematic search identified seven articles for inclusion in the review. These consisted of six research articles and one systematic review. The review focused specifically on interventions using real exposure techniques for anxiety disorders in the workplace. In the research articles addressed in the current review, study populations included police officers, public transportation workers, and employees injured at work. The studies examined the effectiveness of EMDR, cognitive-behavioural techniques, and an integrative therapy approach called brief eclectic psychotherapy. Interestingly, 2 of the 6 research articles addressed add-on treatments for workplace PTSD, which were designed to treat workers with PTSD who failed to respond to traditional evidence-based psychotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS: Results of the current review suggest that work-related interventions show promise as effective strategies for promoting return to work in employees who acquired PTSD in the workplace. Further research is needed in this area to determine how different occupational groups with specific types of traumatic exposure might respond differently to work-tailored treatments.