The Effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy on Reducing Grief Symptoms in Bereaved Children

Subject Areas : روان‌شناسی تحولی

گلاره رضایی ¹ , Masoud shahbazi ² , amin koraei ³ , Seyedeh Zahra Alavi ⁴

1 - دانشجوی دکتری مشاوره، واحد اهواز، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، اهواز، ایران
2 - azad uni.
3 - Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
4 - Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Susangard Branch, Islamic Azad University, Susangard, Iran

Received: 2023-12-17 Accepted : 2024-07-28 Published : 2025-04-29

Keywords: eye movement desensitization, reprocessing, grief symptoms, bereaved children,

Abstract :

This study aimed to investigate desensitization and reprocessing with eye movements on the reduction of bereavement symptoms in bereaved children. In this investigation, a single-case experimental design with incongruent multiple baseline designs was used. The statistical population of the present research was comprised of bereaved children in the city of Karaj who have lost a parent within the past six months. The sample of the research was 3 children aged 10-11 years with the purposeful sampling method based on the entry criteria. This study utilized the Children’s Grief Questionnaire (Dyregrov, Yule, Smith, Perrin, Gjestad & Prigerson, 2001). as the questionnaire. In this research, a single-case design of The treatment protocol was applied in eight stages and 4 stages of baseline and two-stage follow-up for all participants. Subjects were analyzed before the treatment, after the intervention and follow-up by the aforementioned questionnaire. The study’s data were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS-22. The results of the data analysis showed that the overall recovery percentage of the subjects at the end of the treatment as well as at the 45-day and 3-month follow-up stages was at a significant level (p<0.05). This treatment method can reduce the symptoms of bereavement in children. Therefore, the patients can be introduced to the experts as the main research and treatment priorities in this field.

References:


Abdaly Aghagoly, M., & Aminiha, A. (2022). Investigating the psychological experiences of bereaved adolescent girls a qualitative study, Journal Developmental Psychology: Iranian Psychologists, 19(73), 51-64. [In Persian].
Achenbach, T. M., Dumenci, L., & Rescorla, L. A. (2001). Ratings of relations between DSM- IV diagnostic categories and items of the CBCL/G-18, TRF, and YSR. Online. Reterived 15 may 2018 from https://www.ASEBA. Org/research/DSM 6- 18/ ratings.
Alavi, S. Z. (2017). The effectiveness of couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment and emotion-oriented couplede therapy on intimacy, marital commitment and psychological flexibility of incompatible couples. PhD dissertation of counseling, Ahvaz Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz. [In Persian].
Aldao, A., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Schweizer, S. (2010). Emotion-regulation strategies across psychopathology: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(2), 217-237.
Bergman, A. S., Axberg, U., & Hanson, E. (2017). When a parent dies–A systematic review of the effects of support programs for parentally bereaved children and their caregivers. BMC Palliative Care, 16(1), 1-15.
Boelen PA & Lenferink LI. (2022). Prolonged grief disorder in DSM-5-TR: Early predictors and longitudinal measurement invariance. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 56(6), 667-74.
Burns, M., Griese, B., King, S., & Talmi, A. (2020). Childhood bereavement: Understanding prevalence and related adversity in the United States. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 90(4), 391-405.
Chen, Y. R., Hung, K. W., Tsai, J. C., Chu, H., Chung, M. H., Chen, S. R., & Chou, K. R. (2014). Efficacy of eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing for patients with posttraumatic-stress disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS One, 9(8), 103-121.
Cohen, J. A., & Mannarino, A. P. (2019). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for childhood traumatic separation. Child Abuse & Neglect, 92, 179-195.
Conijn, T., Haverman, L., Wijburg, F. A., & De Roos, C. (2021). Reducing posttraumatic stress in parents of patients with a rare inherited metabolic disorder using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy: A case study. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 16(1), 1-6.
Curtin, S. C., Warner, M., & Hedegaard, H. (2016). Increase in suicide in the United States, 1999-2014. US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.
Dillen, L., Fontaine, J. R., & Verhofstadt-Denève, L. (2009). Confirming the distinctiveness of complicated grief from depression and anxiety among adolescents. Death Studies, 33(5), 437-461.‏
Duncan, D. A. (2020). Death and dying: A systematic review into approaches used to support bereaved children. Review of Education, 8(2), 452-479.‏
Dyregrov, A., Yule, W., Smith, P., Perrin, S., Gjestad, R., & Prigerson, H. (2001). Traumatic Grief Inventory for Children (TGIC). Children and War Foundation.
Gall, M. D., Borg, W. R., & Gall, J. P. (1995). Education research, an introduction. New York: Longman Publishers.
Gaynor, S. T., Baird, S. C., & Nelson-Gray, R. O. (1999). Application of time-series (single-subject) designs in clinical psychology. In P. Kendall, J. N. Butcher & G. N. Holmbeck (Eds.), Handbook of research methods in clinical psychology (pp. 297-329). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Godarzi, Z., GHanbari, S., Pakdaman, SH., Mazaheri, M. A., & Vahidi, E. (2022). The relationship of maternal reflective functioning and childrenˊs behavioral problems: The mediating role of emotion regulation. Journal of Developmental Psychology: Iranian Psychologists, 18 (72), 299-311. [In Persian].
ISTSS. (2021). Adult prevention and early treatment for PTSD. ISTSS; 2018. Reterived 18 Mar 2018 from https://istss.org/public-resources/trauma-basics/adult-prevention-and-early-treatment-for-ptsd.
Kaptan, S. K., Dursun, B. O., Knowles, M., Husain, N., & Varese, F. (2021). Group eye movement desensitization and reprocessing interventions in adults and children: A systematic review of randomized and nonrandomized trials. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 28(4), 784-806.
Karadag, M., Gokcen, C., & Sarp, A. S. (2020). EMDR therapy in children and adolescents who have post-traumatic stress disorder: A six-week follow-up study. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 24(1), 77-82.
Khandwala, Y. S., Zhang, C. A., Lu, Y., & Eisenberg, M. L. (2017). The age of fathers in the USA is rising: An analysis of 168 867 480 births from 1972 to 2015. Human Reproduction, 32(10), 2110-2116.
Kovacs, M. (1981). Rating scalcs to assess gepression in school-age children, Actopaedo- Psychiatry.46, 305-315.
Lazarus, R. S. (1993). From psychological stress to the emotions: A history of changing outlooks. Annual Review of Psychology, 44(1), 1-22.
McGowan, I. W., Fisher, N., Havens, J., & Proudlock, S. (2021). An evaluation of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy delivered remotely during the Covid–19 pandemic. BMC Psychiatry, 21(1), 1-8.
Melhem, Y. (2004). The antecedents of customer contact employee’s empowerment. Employee Relation, 26(1), 72-93.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2018). Post-Traumaticstress disorder. Retrived 18 Mar. 2020 from https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng116.
Rafiee Ardastani, M., Eskandari, H., Borjali, A., & Farrokhi, N. (2018). Reaction to loss among Young generation of Tehranˊs population: A gualitive study. Journal of Research in Psychological Health, 12(3), 66-81. [In Persian].
Rando, T. A. (2013). Coping with the sudden death of your loved one: Self-help for traumatic bereavement. Nederlands: Publisher, Place.
Sajjadian, P. (2012). Presenting a structural model of the risk factors of crisis-causing grief and its relationship with post-traumatic stress disorder in bereaved Afghan immigrant children and adolescents. PhD dissertation of psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran. [In Persian].
Salinas, C. L. (2021). Playing to heal: The impact of bereavement camp for children with grief. International Journal of Play Therapy, 30(1), 40–49.
Sandler, I., Yun‐Tien, J., Zhang, N., Wolchik, S., & Thieleman, K. (2021). Grief as a predictor of long‐term risk for suicidal ideation and attempts of parentally bereaved children and adolescents. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 34(6), 1159-1170.
Sephertaj, S. A., Yonsi, J., Seyed Mousavi, P., & Jafari, P. (2021). Examining the psychometric properties of the Children's Prolonged Grief Scale Questionnaire (IPG-C). First national rehabilitation counseling congress of Iran, Tehran. [In Persian].
Seth, P., Scholl, L., Rudd, R. A., & Bacon, S. (2018). Overdose deaths involving opioids, cocaine, and psychostimulants-United States, 2015–2016. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 67(12), 349-358.
Shapiro, F. (2002). EMDR 12 years after its introduction: Past and future research. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(1), 1-22.
Shapiro, F. (2013). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): Basic principles, protocols, and procedures. New York: Guilford Press.
Solomon, R. M., & Hensley, B. J. (2020). EMDR therapy treatment of grief and mourning in times of Covid-19. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 4(3), 162-174.
Solomon, R. M., & Rando, T. A. (2012). Treatment of grief and mourning through EMDR: Conceptual considerations and clinical guidelines. European Review of Applied Psychology, 62(4), 231-239.
Spuij, M., Prinzie, P., Dekovic, M., van den Bout, J., & Boelen, P. A. (2013). The effectiven of Grief-Help, a cognitive behavioural treatment for prolonged grief in children: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 14(1), 395.
Swan, S. (2023). Supporting children through traumatic loss: A counseling group for children. PhD dissertation Drexel University College of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Tolahunase, M. R., Sagar, R., Chaurasia, P., & Dada, R. (2018). Impact of yoga- and meditation-based lifestyle intervention on depression, quality of life, and cellular aging in infertile couples. Fertility and Sterility, 110(4), 67-74.
Tsutsui, T., Hasegawa, Y., Hiraga, M., Ishiki, M., & Asukai, N. (2014). Distinctiveness of prolonged grief disorder symptoms among survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Psychiatry Research, 217(1-2), 67-71.
Van Ommeren, M. (2021). Guidelines for the management of conditions specifically related to stress. World Health Organisation. Retrived 20 Jan. 2021 from https:// www.who.int.
World Health Organization. (2013). Global tuberculosis report. Retrived Nov.2, 2018 from https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/91355.