The EMDR Protocol for Recent Critical Incidents: Follow-Up Report of an Application in a Human Massacre Situation

This study evaluated a brief EMDR-based intervention for workers exposed to extreme trauma while handling mass casualties. A single session significantly reduced PTSD symptoms, and improvements continued over 3- and 5-month follow-ups despite ongoing exposure to traumatic conditions. As shown in symptom trends (Figures 1–2), both immediate and delayed treatment groups had large and sustained reductions in stress scores. No participants met criteria for chronic PTSD at follow-up. The findings suggest that rapid, early psychological interventions can reduce trauma symptoms and build resilience, even in high-risk, ongoing disaster environments.