Efectividad de tratamiento EMDR en personas guatemaltecas con síntomas de trauma psicológico / The Effectiveness of EMDR Treatment for Guatemalans with Symptoms of Trauma

RESUMEN

Guatemala tiene una baja proporción de psicólogos para la población general (6.89 por cada 100,000 personas), lo que hace imperativo que los tratamientos terapéuticos sean exitosos, eficaces y eficientes. El presente estudio exploró la eficacia de Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) en la reducción de los niveles de síntomas de trauma psicológico. Siete participantes con síntomas moderados a graves fueron sometidos a tres sesiones de terapia EMDR. La frecuencia y la intensidad de los síntomas que manifestaron los participantes redujeron significativamente después de la terapia. Los síntomas no disminuyen (o aumentaron) en un grupo control que no recibió terapia EMDR. Estos resultados sugieren que el método EMDR puede servir a corto plazo como un tipo de tratamiento exitoso que los terapeutas pueden utilizar con pacientes que manifiestan síntomas de trauma psicológico.

ABSTRACT

Guatemala has a relatively low ratio of psychologists to the general population (6.89 psychologists per 100,000 people), which makes it imperative that the therapeutic treatments utilized by psychologists are successful, effective and efficient. The current study explored the effectiveness and efficiency of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy on lowering the levels of symptoms of psychological trauma among Guatemalan participants. Seven participants with moderate to grave symptoms underwent three sessions of EMDR therapy with a therapist trained and certified in EMDR techniques. The frequency and intensity of symptoms experienced by the participants decreased significantly after the therapy. Over the same time period, symptoms of trauma did not decrease (or increase) in a control group who did not receive EMDR therapy. These results suggest that EMDR could serve as a short-term, successful type of treatment for therapists to employ with clients who manifest symptoms of psychological trauma.