Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Efficacy in Improving Clinical, Neuropsychological, and Quality of Life in Women Victims of Violence

Background: The number of female victims of violence has significantly increased in recent years, resulting in physical, mental, and social damage.Objective: To determine the effectiveness of the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapeutic model compared with narrative exp...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Meneses, AYM, Fernández-Gonzalo, S, Vicente, MJ
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT)
Repositorio:r-I3PT. Repositorio Institucional Producción Científica del Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí
OAI Identifier:oai:i3pt.fundanetsuite.com:p5383
Acceso en línea:https://i3pt.portalinvestigacion.com/publicaciones/5383
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85211370085&doi=10.1089%2fwhr.2023.0110&partnerID=40&md5=5f311c1cd63cc167123f417813b9be6b
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:battered women
EMDR therapy
gender-based violence
NET therapy
post-traumatic stress
quality of life
Descripción
Sumario:Background: The number of female victims of violence has significantly increased in recent years, resulting in physical, mental, and social damage.Objective: To determine the effectiveness of the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapeutic model compared with narrative exposure therapy (NET) as treatments for clinical improvement, neuropsychological outcomes, and quality of life in women who have experienced violence.Methods: A randomized experimental study was conducted, involving 120 women exposed to physical, psychological, and sexual violence, who were assigned to either an EMDR or NET group. An extensive battery of clinical, neuropsychological, and quality of life tests was administered both before and after a 10-session therapeutic intervention.Results: Compared with the group of women treated with NET, the group of women who received EMDR therapy, exposed to physical, psychological, and sexual violence, achieved a greater decrease in anxiety (p = 0.001), depression (p = 0.001), and post-traumatic symptoms (p = 0.002). Additionally, there was an increase in the quality of life index (p = 0.001), performance in working memory (p = 0.000), and executive functioning tests (p = 0.000), compared with NET.Conclusions: EMDR proved to be more effective compared with NET in reducing post-traumatic clinical symptoms, increasing the level of quality of life, and enhancing cognitive performance in women affected by gender-based violence. Additionally, it demonstrated independence in therapeutic response across most estimated sociodemographic factors, making it a therapy with broader therapeutic reach in the community of Ecuadorian women.