{"id":{"repo_id":"salford","oai_identifier":"oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1334268"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/salford/oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1334268","repository":{"repo_id":"salford","name":"U. of Salford","base_url":"https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/oaiprovider"},"display":{"title":"Investigating the perceived effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment in adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and the impact on neuropsychological, emotional and behavioural functioning and quality of life : a case series analysis","abstract":"Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is an ongoing issue (WHO, 2017) with 1 in 20children annually reported as being abused in the UK (NSPCC, 2019; Radford et al,2011). Many child survivors are of adolescent or young adult age before they requesthelp from relevant services (HAVOCA, 2021; NSPCC, 2018; Noel, Dogaru, and Ellis,2015; Flatley, 2017). The aim of this study was to investigate the perceivedexperiences of six young adult female survivors of CSA of their EMDR treatment aswell as an assessment of the changes in the individual trauma stress response. Thiscase series analysis explored (a) neuropsychological, emotional (namely low selfesteem, anxiety and depression), behavioural functioning and quality of life issuesusing descriptive statistics via outcome measures conducted before, during and aftertreatment and (b) client perspectives through qualitative interviewing at one-monthfollow-up to ensure adequate time was allowed to monitor changes using ThematicAnalysis [TA]. The study setting was within the Improving Access to PsychologicalTherapies (IAPT) program framework, established to ensure service users accessingNHS treatment are presented with choice in their treatment.The triangulation of data in this study allowed for a deeper analysis of theexperiences of adult CSA survivors undergoing EMDR treatment beyond anexamination of differences in pre and post outcome measures. The descriptivestatistics suggested overall positive changes in participant functioning in allmeasured domains (three positive, two moderate outcome cases and one scepticalno-improvement case; based on independent research rater feedback) howevervariable differences in neuropsychological processing from pre- to post-treatment.The descriptive statistics were limited in their generalisability because of certainlimitations in data collection as inhibited by COVID-19 restrictions and because ofthe small sample size. Three key themes were identified in the qualitative analysiswhich contributed to the literature on treatment of adult CSA survivors by identifyingwhich factors the clients identified as helpful and unhelpful to their treatment. Thesethemes were identified as being an ‘Unhelpful’ process (service time restrictions, fearof the lack of confidentiality, fear of emotional reprocessing), ‘Helpful’ aspects oftherapy (client choice in treatment, therapist interpersonal and professional skills,psychological resourcing, idiosyncratic approaches) and ‘Mixed Responses’ due to COVID-19 (face-to-face vs remote working). Overall, this study contributed to theliterature about EMDR treatment for adult CSA survivors by shedding insight into theperceived experiences of clients and providing further evidence for the efficacy ofthis treatment.Importantly, further research could investigate a potentially larger sample, emphasison neuropsychological functioning, and within differing settings, to understanddeficits within the current study. A qualitative study of the perceptions andexperiences of childhood sexual abuse survivors who opt for CBT over EMDR mightlead to recommendations for changes in protocol that would make EMDR moreacceptable. There is scope to further investigate EMDR as a reliable and validtreatment option within NHS IAPT settings, alongside essential service developmentin therapist training programmes to support the growing need for treatment ofmultiple-trauma and/or Complex-PTSD (ICD-11, International Classification ofDiseases-11, 2018).","abstract_html":"Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is an ongoing issue (WHO, 2017) with 1 in 20children annually reported as being abused in the UK (NSPCC, 2019; Radford et al,2011). Many child survivors are of adolescent or young adult age before they requesthelp from relevant services (HAVOCA, 2021; NSPCC, 2018; Noel, Dogaru, and Ellis,2015; Flatley, 2017). The aim of this study was to investigate the perceivedexperiences of six young adult female survivors of CSA of their EMDR treatment aswell as an assessment of the changes in the individual trauma stress response. Thiscase series analysis explored (a) neuropsychological, emotional (namely low selfesteem, anxiety and depression), behavioural functioning and quality of life issuesusing descriptive statistics via outcome measures conducted before, during and aftertreatment and (b) client perspectives through qualitative interviewing at one-monthfollow-up to ensure adequate time was allowed to monitor changes using ThematicAnalysis [TA]. The study setting was within the Improving Access to PsychologicalTherapies (IAPT) program framework, established to ensure service users accessingNHS treatment are presented with choice in their treatment.The triangulation of data in this study allowed for a deeper analysis of theexperiences of adult CSA survivors undergoing EMDR treatment beyond anexamination of differences in pre and post outcome measures. The descriptivestatistics suggested overall positive changes in participant functioning in allmeasured domains (three positive, two moderate outcome cases and one scepticalno-improvement case; based on independent research rater feedback) howevervariable differences in neuropsychological processing from pre- to post-treatment.The descriptive statistics were limited in their generalisability because of certainlimitations in data collection as inhibited by COVID-19 restrictions and because ofthe small sample size. Three key themes were identified in the qualitative analysiswhich contributed to the literature on treatment of adult CSA survivors by identifyingwhich factors the clients identified as helpful and unhelpful to their treatment. Thesethemes were identified as being an ‘Unhelpful’ process (service time restrictions, fearof the lack of confidentiality, fear of emotional reprocessing), ‘Helpful’ aspects oftherapy (client choice in treatment, therapist interpersonal and professional skills,psychological resourcing, idiosyncratic approaches) and ‘Mixed Responses’ due to COVID-19 (face-to-face vs remote working). Overall, this study contributed to theliterature about EMDR treatment for adult CSA survivors by shedding insight into theperceived experiences of clients and providing further evidence for the efficacy ofthis treatment.Importantly, further research could investigate a potentially larger sample, emphasison neuropsychological functioning, and within differing settings, to understanddeficits within the current study. A qualitative study of the perceptions andexperiences of childhood sexual abuse survivors who opt for CBT over EMDR mightlead to recommendations for changes in protocol that would make EMDR moreacceptable. There is scope to further investigate EMDR as a reliable and validtreatment option within NHS IAPT settings, alongside essential service developmentin therapist training programmes to support the growing need for treatment ofmultiple-trauma and/or Complex-PTSD (ICD-11, International Classification ofDiseases-11, 2018).","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Bibi, H"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":"Doctoral (Level 8)","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021","date_published":"2021","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:26:06Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1334268"],"render_values":[{"text":"oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1334268","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":null,"outbound_label":null,"outbound_source":null},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.sponsor","label":"Sponsor","values":["University of Salford"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Bibi, H"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2021-07-08"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2021"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby","values":["https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/output/1334268"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Doctoral (Level 8)"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1334268"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/file/1334268/1/FINAL%20THESIS%20RESUBMISSION.pdf"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is an ongoing issue (WHO, 2017) with 1 in 20children annually reported as being abused in the UK (NSPCC, 2019; Radford et al,2011). Many child survivors are of adolescent or young adult age before they requesthelp from relevant services (HAVOCA, 2021; NSPCC, 2018; Noel, Dogaru, and Ellis,2015; Flatley, 2017). The aim of this study was to investigate the perceivedexperiences of six young adult female survivors of CSA of their EMDR treatment aswell as an assessment of the changes in the individual trauma stress response. Thiscase series analysis explored (a) neuropsychological, emotional (namely low selfesteem, anxiety and depression), behavioural functioning and quality of life issuesusing descriptive statistics via outcome measures conducted before, during and aftertreatment and (b) client perspectives through qualitative interviewing at one-monthfollow-up to ensure adequate time was allowed to monitor changes using ThematicAnalysis [TA]. The study setting was within the Improving Access to PsychologicalTherapies (IAPT) program framework, established to ensure service users accessingNHS treatment are presented with choice in their treatment.The triangulation of data in this study allowed for a deeper analysis of theexperiences of adult CSA survivors undergoing EMDR treatment beyond anexamination of differences in pre and post outcome measures. The descriptivestatistics suggested overall positive changes in participant functioning in allmeasured domains (three positive, two moderate outcome cases and one scepticalno-improvement case; based on independent research rater feedback) howevervariable differences in neuropsychological processing from pre- to post-treatment.The descriptive statistics were limited in their generalisability because of certainlimitations in data collection as inhibited by COVID-19 restrictions and because ofthe small sample size. Three key themes were identified in the qualitative analysiswhich contributed to the literature on treatment of adult CSA survivors by identifyingwhich factors the clients identified as helpful and unhelpful to their treatment. Thesethemes were identified as being an ‘Unhelpful’ process (service time restrictions, fearof the lack of confidentiality, fear of emotional reprocessing), ‘Helpful’ aspects oftherapy (client choice in treatment, therapist interpersonal and professional skills,psychological resourcing, idiosyncratic approaches) and ‘Mixed Responses’ due to COVID-19 (face-to-face vs remote working). Overall, this study contributed to theliterature about EMDR treatment for adult CSA survivors by shedding insight into theperceived experiences of clients and providing further evidence for the efficacy ofthis treatment.Importantly, further research could investigate a potentially larger sample, emphasison neuropsychological functioning, and within differing settings, to understanddeficits within the current study. A qualitative study of the perceptions andexperiences of childhood sexual abuse survivors who opt for CBT over EMDR mightlead to recommendations for changes in protocol that would make EMDR moreacceptable. There is scope to further investigate EMDR as a reliable and validtreatment option within NHS IAPT settings, alongside essential service developmentin therapist training programmes to support the growing need for treatment ofmultiple-trauma and/or Complex-PTSD (ICD-11, International Classification ofDiseases-11, 2018)."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Investigating the perceived effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment in adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and the impact on neuropsychological, emotional and behavioural functioning and quality of life : a case series analysis"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.sponsor":["University of Salford"],"dc:creator":["Bibi, H"],"dc:date":["2021-07-08"],"dc:date.issued":["2021"],"dc:description.abstract":["Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is an ongoing issue (WHO, 2017) with 1 in 20children annually reported as being abused in the UK (NSPCC, 2019; Radford et al,2011). Many child survivors are of adolescent or young adult age before they requesthelp from relevant services (HAVOCA, 2021; NSPCC, 2018; Noel, Dogaru, and Ellis,2015; Flatley, 2017). The aim of this study was to investigate the perceivedexperiences of six young adult female survivors of CSA of their EMDR treatment aswell as an assessment of the changes in the individual trauma stress response. Thiscase series analysis explored (a) neuropsychological, emotional (namely low selfesteem, anxiety and depression), behavioural functioning and quality of life issuesusing descriptive statistics via outcome measures conducted before, during and aftertreatment and (b) client perspectives through qualitative interviewing at one-monthfollow-up to ensure adequate time was allowed to monitor changes using ThematicAnalysis [TA]. The study setting was within the Improving Access to PsychologicalTherapies (IAPT) program framework, established to ensure service users accessingNHS treatment are presented with choice in their treatment.The triangulation of data in this study allowed for a deeper analysis of theexperiences of adult CSA survivors undergoing EMDR treatment beyond anexamination of differences in pre and post outcome measures. The descriptivestatistics suggested overall positive changes in participant functioning in allmeasured domains (three positive, two moderate outcome cases and one scepticalno-improvement case; based on independent research rater feedback) howevervariable differences in neuropsychological processing from pre- to post-treatment.The descriptive statistics were limited in their generalisability because of certainlimitations in data collection as inhibited by COVID-19 restrictions and because ofthe small sample size. Three key themes were identified in the qualitative analysiswhich contributed to the literature on treatment of adult CSA survivors by identifyingwhich factors the clients identified as helpful and unhelpful to their treatment. Thesethemes were identified as being an ‘Unhelpful’ process (service time restrictions, fearof the lack of confidentiality, fear of emotional reprocessing), ‘Helpful’ aspects oftherapy (client choice in treatment, therapist interpersonal and professional skills,psychological resourcing, idiosyncratic approaches) and ‘Mixed Responses’ due to COVID-19 (face-to-face vs remote working). Overall, this study contributed to theliterature about EMDR treatment for adult CSA survivors by shedding insight into theperceived experiences of clients and providing further evidence for the efficacy ofthis treatment.Importantly, further research could investigate a potentially larger sample, emphasison neuropsychological functioning, and within differing settings, to understanddeficits within the current study. A qualitative study of the perceptions andexperiences of childhood sexual abuse survivors who opt for CBT over EMDR mightlead to recommendations for changes in protocol that would make EMDR moreacceptable. There is scope to further investigate EMDR as a reliable and validtreatment option within NHS IAPT settings, alongside essential service developmentin therapist training programmes to support the growing need for treatment ofmultiple-trauma and/or Complex-PTSD (ICD-11, International Classification ofDiseases-11, 2018)."],"dc:identifier":["oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1334268"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/file/1334268/1/FINAL%20THESIS%20RESUBMISSION.pdf"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:relation.isreferencedby":["https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/output/1334268"],"dc:title":["Investigating the perceived effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment in adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and the impact on neuropsychological, emotional and behavioural functioning and quality of life : a case series analysis"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Doctoral (Level 8)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:26:06Z"}