DepressionEMDRNCT07822165
A Migration-Focused Adaptation of EMDR for Psychological Distress Among Turkish Migrants
A study testing EMDR in people with Depression and Anxiety, run by Derin Kubilay at 2 sites in 2 countries.
Trial summary
Many people who migrate to new countries experience significant emotional and psychological challenges. These challenges can include depression, anxiety, stress, and difficulty adjusting to a new culture and society. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Depression, Anxiety, Stress
- What is being tested?
- EMDR
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 38 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesin 2 countries
- Study dates
- 23 Oct 2025to 23 Jul 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- First-generation Turkish adults who are currently residing outside Türkiye
- Currently residing outside Türkiye for a minimum of 6 months
- Reporting emotional distress or psychological difficulties related to migration and adaptation to a new country
- Literate and capable of providing informed consent
Who cannot join
- Current severe psychiatric condition (psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, severe depression, or clinically significant suicide risk)
- Intellectual disability or cognitive impairment that would prevent informed consent or participation
- Concurrent intensive psychotherapy (more than one individual psychotherapy session per week), or active psychiatric treatment involving medication changes
- History of alcohol or substance dependence
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 2 countries.
2 sites in 2 countries
About this study
Official title: A Migration-Focused Adaptation of EMDR for Psychological Distress Among Turkish Migrants: A Pilot Study
Many people who migrate to new countries experience significant emotional and psychological challenges. These challenges can include depression, anxiety, stress, and difficulty adjusting to a new culture and society. This pilot study examined whether a specialized form of psychotherapy called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), adapted specifically for migration-related experiences, may help reduce these psychological difficulties and support social adaptation.
Participants were first-generation Turkish adults living in five European countries-the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, and Austria-who reported emotional distress associated with migration and adaptation challenges. They received 12 weekly individual sessions delivered by licensed EMDR therapists, focusing on distressing experiences and difficulties related to adjusting to life in a new country.
Read more
Before and after the therapy, participants completed questionnaires measuring their levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and their sense of social adaptation in their new communities.
This is a small single-arm pilot study without a control group. It was designed to provide preliminary information that may inform larger controlled trials.
Read the detailed description
Background and Rationale: Migration has become a major global phenomenon. While migration can provide opportunities, it also appears to involve significant psychological challenges. Migrants commonly report elevated levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and difficulties with social adaptation and integration. Turkish migrants represent one of the largest established migrant communities worldwide, particularly in Europe.
Migration-related psychological distress may emerge from complex interactions between pre-migration experiences, ongoing post-migration stressors, and evolving sense of identity and belonging. Rather than representing a single traumatic event, migration-related distress often appears to reflect accumulated challenges across the migration trajectory, including language barriers, social isolation, discrimination, and reduced social support in the host country.
Intervention: This study examined a migration-focused adaptation of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a psychotherapy approach with existing evidence in trauma-related conditions. The study employed a migration-focused protocol that maintained the standard EMDR structure while addressing migration-specific clinical concerns. Treatment consisted of 12 individual weekly online sessions delivered by licensed EMDR therapists.
This study is grounded in the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model underlying EMDR therapy. The protocol focused on migration-related experiences, including past difficulties, current triggers, and future challenges. It emphasized strengthening coping resources and establishing a safe place in the host country. Between-session activities and future-oriented exercises were used to support adaptation, reinforce positive experiences, and increase confidence in managing migration-related situations.
Design: This is a single-arm, pre-post pilot study. Psychological distress and social adaptation were assessed at baseline and after completion of the 12-session protocol. Given the absence of a control group, randomization, and blinding, the design does not permit causal inference regarding treatment effects.
- Conditions
- Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Social Adaptation
- Being tested
- EMDR
- Keywords
- EMDR, migration, psychological distress, social adaptation
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Social Adjustment
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
EMDRBehavioural
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. EMDR employs bilateral stimulation to facilitate processing of distressing memories and maladaptive cognitions. This intervention addresses migration-related psychological distress. Sessions followed standard EMDR phases including history-taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and re-evaluation. No medication or control condition.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| EMDR therapy | Experimental | 12 individual weekly online psychotherapy sessions delivered by licensed EMDR therapists. Each session is 45 minutes. Clinical focus of the intervention addresses migration-related psychological distress. Receives: Behavioral: EMDR |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21)
Psychological distress was assessed using the DASS-21, the short form of the original 42-item DASS developed by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995). The Turkish adaptation of the DASS-21 was conducted by Yılmaz et al. (2017). The measure comprises three seven-item subscales assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress during the preceding week. Items are rated on a four-point Likert-type scale ranging from 0 (Did not apply to me at all) to 3 (Applied to me very much). The DASS-21 contains no reverse-scored items. Each subscale yields a score ranging from 0 to 21, and the total DASS-21 score ranges from 0 to 63.
The Turkish version has demonstrated adequate internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of .82 for depression, .81 for anxiety, and .76 for stress (Yılmaz et al., 2017). In the present study, depression, anxiety, and stress were specified as the primary psychological outcomes.
Measured: Baseline (Before the first EMDR session) and post-treatment (Week 12, after final EMDR session)
Secondary outcomes (1)
Social Cohesion Scale for Immigrants (SCSI)
Social adaptation was assessed using the 28-item Social Cohesion Scale for Immigrants (SCSI), developed by Kaya (2022). The scale comprises six dimensions: Exclusion, belonging, psychological and social support, individual factors, hope and past experience. Thirteen items are reverse scored. Total scores range from 28 to 140, with higher scores indicating greater social adaptation.
The original validation study reported satisfactory internal consistency across the six subscales: Exclusion (α = .83), Belonging (α = .86), Psychological and Social Support (α = .78), Individual Factors (α = .80), Hope (α = .84), and Past Experiences (α = .82). Internal consistency for the total scale was α = .82 (Kaya, 2022). Social adaptation was specified as the secondary outcome of the study.
Measured: Baseline (Before the first EMDR session) and post-treatment (Week 12, after final EMDR session)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Sep 2026
- Study start23 Oct 2025
- Primary completion23 Jul 2026
- Study completion23 Jul 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for DepressionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Single-arm design; all participants received the same intervention.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 38 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Derin Kubilay
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Derin Kubilay, Utrecht University
- Investigators
- Derin Kubilay, MA, Principal investigator, Utrecht University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07822165
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- EMDR-MIGR-001
- Other IDs
- 61351342/020-1678
- Acronym
- EMDR
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data are not publicly available. The data were collected within a psychotherapeutic treatment context, and participants were assured that all information provided would remain confidential; consent for sharing data with third parties was not obtained. The small sample size (N = 16) and the distribution of participants across five countries further limit the possibility of meaningful de-identification. Requests for access will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the corresponding author and would require prior approval from the institutional ethics committee.
Publications
de Jongh A, de Roos C, El-Leithy S. State of the science: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. J Trauma Stress. 2024 Apr;37(2):205-216. doi: 10.1002/jts.23012. Epub 2024 Jan 28.
PubMed 38282286Korn DL, Leeds AM. Preliminary evidence of efficacy for EMDR resource development and installation in the stabilization phase of treatment of complex posttraumatic stress disorder. J Clin Psychol. 2002 Dec;58(12):1465-87. doi: 10.1002/jclp.10099.
PubMed 12455016
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Migration-Focused Adaptation of EMDR for Psychological Distress Among Turkish Migrants: A Pilot Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07822165
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EMDR / EMDR-MIGR-001
- Conditions
- Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Social Adaptation
- Keywords
- EMDR, migration, psychological distress, social adaptation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 38 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Derin KubilayUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 23 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 23 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 23 Jul 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 16 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Many people who migrate to new countries experience significant emotional and psychological challenges. These challenges can include depression, anxiety, stress, and difficulty adjusting to a new culture and society. This pilot study examined whether a specialized form of psychotherapy called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), adapted specifically for migration-related experiences, may help reduce these psychological difficulties and support social adaptation.
Participants were first-generation Turkish adults living in five European countries-the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, and Austria-who reported emotional distress associated with migration and adaptation challenges. They received 12 weekly individual sessions delivered by licensed EMDR therapists, focusing on distressing experiences and difficulties related to adjusting to life in a new country.
Before and after the therapy, participants completed questionnaires measuring their levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and their sense of social adaptation in their new communities.
This is a small single-arm pilot study without a control group. It was designed to provide preliminary information that may inform larger controlled trials.
Detailed description
Background and Rationale: Migration has become a major global phenomenon. While migration can provide opportunities, it also appears to involve significant psychological challenges. Migrants commonly report elevated levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and difficulties with social adaptation and integration. Turkish migrants represent one of the largest established migrant communities worldwide, particularly in Europe.
Migration-related psychological distress may emerge from complex interactions between pre-migration experiences, ongoing post-migration stressors, and evolving sense of identity and belonging. Rather than representing a single traumatic event, migration-related distress often appears to reflect accumulated challenges across the migration trajectory, including language barriers, social isolation, discrimination, and reduced social support in the host country.
Intervention: This study examined a migration-focused adaptation of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a psychotherapy approach with existing evidence in trauma-related conditions. The study employed a migration-focused protocol that maintained the standard EMDR structure while addressing migration-specific clinical concerns. Treatment consisted of 12 individual weekly online sessions delivered by licensed EMDR therapists.
This study is grounded in the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model underlying EMDR therapy. The protocol focused on migration-related experiences, including past difficulties, current triggers, and future challenges. It emphasized strengthening coping resources and establishing a safe place in the host country. Between-session activities and future-oriented exercises were used to support adaptation, reinforce positive experiences, and increase confidence in managing migration-related situations.
Design: This is a single-arm, pre-post pilot study. Psychological distress and social adaptation were assessed at baseline and after completion of the 12-session protocol. Given the absence of a control group, randomization, and blinding, the design does not permit causal inference regarding treatment effects.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Single-arm design; all participants received the same intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| EMDR therapy | Experimental | Behavioral: EMDR12 individual weekly online psychotherapy sessions delivered by licensed EMDR therapists. Each session is 45 minutes. Clinical focus of the intervention addresses migration-related psychological distress. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- First-generation Turkish adults who are currently residing outside Türkiye
- Currently residing outside Türkiye for a minimum of 6 months
- Reporting emotional distress or psychological difficulties related to migration and adaptation to a new country
- Literate and capable of providing informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Current severe psychiatric condition (psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, severe depression, or clinically significant suicide risk)
- Intellectual disability or cognitive impairment that would prevent informed consent or participation
- Concurrent intensive psychotherapy (more than one individual psychotherapy session per week), or active psychiatric treatment involving medication changes
- History of alcohol or substance dependence
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| EMDREye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. EMDR employs bilateral stimulation to facilitate processing of distressing memories and maladaptive cognitions. This intervention addresses migration-related psychological distress. Sessions followed standard EMDR phases including history-taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and re-evaluation. No medication or control condition. | Behavioural | EMDR therapy |
Primary outcome
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21)
Time frame: Baseline (Before the first EMDR session) and post-treatment (Week 12, after final EMDR session)
Psychological distress was assessed using the DASS-21, the short form of the original 42-item DASS developed by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995). The Turkish adaptation of the DASS-21 was conducted by Yılmaz et al. (2017). The measure comprises three seven-item subscales assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress during the preceding week. Items are rated on a four-point Likert-type scale ranging from 0 (Did not apply to me at all) to 3 (Applied to me very much). The DASS-21 contains no reverse-scored items. Each subscale yields a score ranging from 0 to 21, and the total DASS-21 score ranges from 0 to 63. The Turkish version has demonstrated adequate internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of .82 for depression, .81 for anxiety, and .76 for stress (Yılmaz et al., 2017). In the present study, depression, anxiety, and stress were specified as the primary psychological outcomes.
1 secondary outcome
Social Cohesion Scale for Immigrants (SCSI)
Time frame: Baseline (Before the first EMDR session) and post-treatment (Week 12, after final EMDR session)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Sep 2026.
- Background: PubMed 38282286de Jongh A, de Roos C, El-Leithy S. State of the science: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. J Trauma Stress. 2024 Apr;37(2):205-216. doi: 10.1002/jts.23012. Epub 2024 Jan 28.
- Background: PubMed 12455016Korn DL, Leeds AM. Preliminary evidence of efficacy for EMDR resource development and installation in the stabilization phase of treatment of complex posttraumatic stress disorder. J Clin Psychol. 2002 Dec;58(12):1465-87. doi: 10.1002/jclp.10099.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data are not publicly available. The data were collected within a psychotherapeutic treatment context, and participants were assured that all information provided would remain confidential; consent for sharing data with third parties was not obtained. The small sample size (N = 16) and the distribution of participants across five countries further limit the possibility of meaningful de-identification. Requests for access will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the corresponding author and would require prior approval from the institutional ethics committee.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Derin Kubilay, MA principal investigator
Utrecht University
2 sites in 2 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing EMDR in people with Depression and Anxiety, run by Derin Kubilay at 2 sites in 2 countries.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Netherlands, Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) (time frame: Baseline (Before the first EMDR session) and post-treatment (Week 12, after final EMDR session)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07822165, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Sep 2026.