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Effectiveness of MASTR EMDR Therapy for Traumatized Adolescents

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Abstract

This study examined MASTR/EMDR, a trauma-focused treatment for traumatized youth taken in charge by youth protective services. Participants were 40 adolescents who were exhibiting conduct problems and internalizing and externalizing behaviors and who had been exposed to maltreatment. Participants were randomly assigned to MASTR/EMDR treatment or to a routine care condition. Self-report questionnaires and semistructured interviews were administered to participants and one of their parents/caregivers at three points in time: pretreatment, post treatment (12 weeks), and follow-up (12 weeks). Repeated measures analyses of covariance showed that participants in the experimental group had significant improvements in their trauma symptoms and behavioral problems compared with the control group at the posttreat-ment evaluation. These effects were maintained at a 3-month follow-up. Results support the effectiveness of MASTR/EMDR.

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  1. Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3C 3J7

    Leechen Farkas & Mireille Cyr

  2. Private Practice, USA

    Thomas M. Lebeau

  3. Centre jeunesse de Lanaudière, Canada

    Jacques Lemay

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  1. Leechen Farkas
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  2. Mireille Cyr
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Correspondence to Mireille Cyr.

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Farkas, L., Cyr, M., Lebeau, T.M. et al. Effectiveness of MASTR EMDR Therapy for Traumatized Adolescents. Journ Child Adol Trauma 3, 125–142 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1080/19361521003761325

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