Lecturer Leads Pioneering Project for Traumatised Pakistani Earthquake Victims

An Edge Hill lecturer is using highly advanced techniques to help survivors of the Pakistan earthquake overcome Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The devastating earthquake of 2005 destroyed large areas of northern Pakistan, leaving thousands dead and wiping out entire villages.

Many of those that survived were left traumatised by the experience.

Now Paul Keenan, a lecturer in Mental Health, is preparing for his second visit to Abbotabad to work with local mental health professionals treating a huge rise in patients with severe traumatic disorders.

Paul said: "In the 30 seconds that the earthquake lasted, 400,000 houses were destroyed, more than 83,000 people perished - including 35,000 children - and some 135,000 people were injured.

"Tens of thousands of families lost an entire generation. Children left for school but never returned. The entire population went through an extremely traumatic experience and only now are they starting to come to terms with it and ask for help."

High levels of PTSD were first reported after the earthquake of 1999 in Turkey in which 17,000 people died and 43% of the population were found to be suffering from trauma. Some 16% of patients seen immediately after the Pakistan disaster showed symptoms of PTSD.

Paul is a consultant in a psychological technique called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). This involves using 'dual attention stimulus' - or concentrating on two things at once - to help the patient process distressing memories and reduce their anxiety levels. Patients are asked to focus on the traumatic memory and also on an external stimulus such as following the therapist?s finger with their eyes.

Paul explains: "This technique seems to mimic what the brain does on a daily basis during dreaming or Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. It helps the brain process information, 'unblocks? stuck traumatic memories and is shown to be particularly useful in treating PTSD."

Paul and his colleague Dr Derek Farrell, who also travelled to Pakistan, are members of EMDR Europe Humanities Assistance Programme (HAP). The organisation is the mental health equivalent of Doctors Without Borders, a global network of clinicians who travel to natural or man-made disasters worldwide to train local health service workers in the technique, enabling them to treat trauma sufferers.

"We were determined not to be western experts 'parachuting in' and telling the locals what to do," says Paul.

He added: "The programme involves four visits over 18 months, supplemented by on-line supervision. The idea is to equip local mental health practitioners, from psychiatrists to nurses, with the skills to carry out EMDR and empower them to continue the work themselves."

However, the victims of this tragedy may suffer from the disorder for several years before being properly treated.

"The locals are more likely to turn to a shaman or their local shrine for advice and help as consulting a mental health expert is still viewed by many as a last resort, said Paul.

"Hopefully this programme will show how quick, effective and painless EMDR can be in treating post traumatic stress disorder and encourage people to ask for help sooner."

Since returning to the UK, Paul has been busy fundraising for the victims of the earthquake. He took part in a gruelling three peaks challenge in June in which he climbed Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pyke and Snowden, in 30 hrs and raised nearly £3,000.00.

He will return to Pakistan in August to continue his valuable work.

For further information please visit: www.emdrpakistan.com www.emdrhap.org