Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing : a case study of a female adolescent sexual assault survivor

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This study explores the use of Eye Movement Desensitisation (hereafter referred to asEMDR), a form of psychotherapy on a female adolescent sexual assault survivor.Adolescence as a developmental stage is characterised by specific issues, such as the searchfor own identity. Sexual trauma may increase the inner conflict, because of the adolescent'sability to deal with the trauma at a higher cognitive level than in earlier childhood. Withoutsupport including psychotherapy, the adolescent sexual assault survivor may be at risk ofdeveloping mental health problems including Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome (hereafterreferred to as PTSD).This research is a qualitative case study, involving only one adolescent participant. Mary(pseudonym) a sexual assault survivor, was selected from referrals the Unit for EducationalPsychology at the University of Stellenbosch received from the Child Protection Unit of theSouth African Police Services. She was referred because she displayed symptoms ofdepression and PTSD, which affected her relations with her parents, siblings and peers. Shealso struggled to cope emotionally with the academic demands of school. The ecosystemicapproach was chosen as the preferred framework within which to locate this study. Inassessment and intervention this framework lends itself to focussing on relationships andsystems rather than merely the individual with a problem.The study explores the use of EMDR to alleviate symptoms of depression and PTSD in Mary.She attended thirteen sessions of which the first three were used to assess her level offunctioning. Data were collected by means of self-report questionnaires including the Beck'sDepression Inventory and the Dissociative Experiences Scale, interviews and therapysessions during which EMDR was used. The data were analysed using codes, categories andthemes, interpreted and the study concluded with a discussion of the findings. The findingssuggest that EMDR effectively alleviated Mary's symptoms of depression and PTSD.However, since the study was limited to a single participant, a larger sample is recommendedto determine whether EMDR might be a feasible treatment tool for female adolescent sexualassault survivors.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University