Group EMDR therapy for ongoing traumatic stress after road traffic accidents

A Feasibility Trial of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy- Integrative Treatment Group Protocol for Ongoing Traumatic Stress in Road Traffic Accident Survivors for Reduction of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms

NA · University of the Punjab · NCT07027930

This trial will try a group EMDR program to see if it reduces post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, and anxiety and improves quality of life for adults aged 18–45 who had a road traffic accident 3 months to 10 years ago.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment35 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 45 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of the Punjab (other)
Locations1 site (Lahore, Punjab Province)
Trial IDNCT07027930 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Researchers will run a randomized controlled feasibility trial of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Integrative Group Treatment Protocol for Ongoing Traumatic Stress (EMDR-IGTP-OTS) delivered at public universities in Lahore. Adults aged 18–45 who experienced a traffic accident between 3 months and 10 years earlier will be randomized to the group intervention or a control condition and assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and one-month follow-up. Outcomes include psychological measures (DASS-21, UIES-R) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF), with the primary focus on feasibility and acceptability of the group protocol in a resource-constrained setting. Exclusion criteria include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe head injury with cognitive deficits, or accidents less than 3 months prior.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 18–45 who had a road traffic accident 3 months to 10 years ago, can attend in-person group sessions, and do not have severe psychiatric or neurological conditions.

Not a fit: People with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, those with major neurological/cognitive deficits from severe head injury, or individuals within 3 months of their accident are unlikely to benefit from this protocol as tested here.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could provide a scalable group therapy option that reduces trauma symptoms and improves quality of life for traffic-accident survivors.

How similar studies have performed: Individual EMDR has strong evidence for PTSD and some group EMDR formats have shown promising feasibility, but the specific EMDR-IGTP-OTS protocol in this context is less well studied.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged between 18 and 45 years.
* Experienced a traffic accident 3 months to 10 years prior
* Willing to participate and able to understand the intervention components.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participants will be excluded from the study if they meet any of the following criteria:

  * Diagnosed with conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, which require specialized treatment beyond the scope of this study.
  * History of severe head injuries resulting in neurological or cognitive deficits.
  * Participants who have experienced a traffic accident less than 3 months ago, as immediate post-traumatic responses may not have stabilized

Where this trial is running

Lahore, Punjab Province

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms, Quality of Life, Stress

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.