Effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for children and adolescents with PTSD or trauma-related symptoms: An umbrella review and narrative synthesis

This umbrella review synthesized review-level evidence on the effectiveness of EMDR therapy for pediatric PTSD and trauma-related symptoms and examined developmental adaptations.

Article Abstract

“Background: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related symptoms in children and adolescents are associated with significant developmental and psychosocial impairment, highlighting the need for effective trauma-focused interventions.

Methods: This umbrella review synthesized review-level evidence on the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for pediatric PTSD and trauma-related symptoms and examined developmental adaptations. Evidence was identified through PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and citation tracking. Two reviewers independently screened eligible systematic reviews, meta-analyses, network meta-analyses, and structured/narrative reviews using Rayyan after duplicate removal. Risk of bias was assessed using ROBIS with AMSTAR-2-informed considerations, and study overlap was evaluated using citation matrices and corrected covered area calculations.

Results: Nineteen reviews were included, twelve of which contained meta-analytic components. EMDR was associated with reductions in PTSD and trauma-related symptoms, while comparisons with Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) showed mixed findings. Evidence regarding long-term outcomes was limited.

Conclusions: EMDR appears to be an effective trauma-focused intervention for reducing PTSD and trauma-related symptoms in children and adolescents. However, mixed comparative findings with TF-CBT and limited long-term evidence warrant cautious interpretation. Further high-quality research is needed to establish the long-term effectiveness of EMDR and to clarify the role of developmentally adapted protocols in pediatric populations.”

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Katsivarda, K., Jelastopulu, E., Dimakos, I., & Vassilopoulos, S. (2026). Effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for children and adolescents with PTSD or trauma-related symptoms: An umbrella review and narrative synthesis. SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine, 8, 573. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-026-02768-z(opens in new tab)