Intensive EMDR in Wales: A service evaluation assessing clinical recovery and reliable improvement in trauma symptoms

Chandler, Ella, Evans, Nic, Wyatt, Libby, Simon, Natalie, Gladwyn-Khan, Misbah and Bradfield, Catherine 2026. Intensive EMDR in Wales: A service evaluation assessing clinical recovery and reliable improvement in trauma symptoms. Clinical Psychology Forum 399 , pp. 27-35. 10.53841/bpscpf.2026.1.399.27

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Abstract

EMDR has a well-established evidence base for treating PTSD/CPTSD with emerging evidence suggesting intensive short-term versions may also be effective. This study investigated a six-day outpatient version of intensive trauma treatment in secondary care NHS settings in Wales with high levels of social deprivation. The multi-component programme consisted of psychoeducation, imaginal exposure, EMDR and a group activity (eg. yoga) each day. Up to six patients attended per cohort and worked with multiple therapists over the six-day intervention. Trauma and depressive symptoms were assessed using the CAPS-5, PCL-5, ITQ, and BDI-II. Measures were completed at assessment plus 4-weeks and 6-months follow-up. We included data from a sample of 56 participants, assessing PTSD/CPTSD in terms of diagnostic status according to ICD-11, reliable improvement, and clinically significant change. We found a high level of recovery from PTSD/CPTSD. Participants reaching threshold for a CPTSD diagnosis reduced from 86% to 22%, and 73% were no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for either PTSD/CPTSD. 72% of participants reliably improved in terms of their depressive symptoms at 4-weeks, increasing to 85% at 6-months. According to the CAPS-5, 78.9% of our sample achieved clinically significant change for PTSD symptoms and 84% were reliably improved at 6-month follow-up. Given the high demand for trauma therapy and waiting list pressures, these results from a short-term trauma intervention within an NHS secondary care mental health service are encouraging.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Psychology
Publisher:	The British Psychological Society
ISSN:	1747-5732
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	18 August 2026
Last Modified:	18 Aug 2026 09:05
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189047

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