Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): efficacy in improving clinical, neuropsychological, and quality of life in women victims of violence

INTERVENTION: A total of 120 women exposed to gender‐based violence participated; the women were identified and invited to participate in the study through professionals from the public health network of the Tabacundo Health Center in Ecuador. The participants were randomly divided into two treatment groups. All selected women were informed of the characteristics and procedures of the study and of the voluntary nature of their participation, and they signed an informed consent form. Women who agreed to participate in the study were administered the Spanish version of the National Adult Reading Test (NART) 46‐47 to rule out intellectual disability, and those who met the inclusion criteria underwent the pretest, which consisted of a complete battery to evaluate the clinical profile, cognitive functions, and quality of life of the participants. Subsequently, the women were assigned to the corresponding therapy groups: Group A – 60 women who received EMDR therapy Group B – 60 women who received NET The treatment plan is made up of 10 sessions, lasting 60 minutes each. After the treatment, the post‐test evaluation will be applied. The duration time is estimated at 3 years. Dropouts that occurred during the treatment phase were considered in the analysis. Following the protocols for the treatment plan designed for each group and the recommendations of the ethics committee, two specialized therapists were assigned to a random list of participants based on the specialty of the therapist, EMDR or NET. Ten personalized therapeutic sessions were scheduled, each with a duration of 60 minutes. CONDITION: Women exposed to gender‐based violence who show symptoms of anxiety, depression and post‐traumatic stress, in addition to low performance in cognitive functioning, or that limits performance in daily life ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders PRIMARY OUTCOME: ; Measurements are made with the pretest (beginning of treatment, includes 10 sessions) and post‐test (after 6 months) at the end of treatment:; Neuropsychological functioning was measured using the following tests:; 1. The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test RAV LT.; 2. Coding ‐ subtest WAIS IV.; 3. Test D2. measures selective and sustained attention.; 4. Trail Making Test, part A (TMT‐A) and part B (TMT‐B).; 5. Stroop Test. An instrument that assesses complex attention.; 6. Phonological Verbal Fluency Test PVFT.; 7. Semantic Verbal Fluency Test SVFT. Assesses the ability to retrieve stored semantic information.; SECONDARY OUTCOME: ; Measurements are made with the pretest (beginning of treatment, includes 10 sessions) and post‐test (after 6 months) at the end of treatment:; 1. Gender violence ‐ Questionnaire on violence; 2. Anxiety and depression are measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale HADS scale; 3. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is measured using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM‐5 (PCL‐5); 4. Quality of Life is measured using GENCAT Scale; INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Exposed to gender violence (physical, psychological and/or sexual) 2. Between 18 and 50 years of age 3. Signed the informed consent form