Effect of EMDR combined with multimodal treatment on pain and depressive symptoms in adults with fibromyalgia: A preliminary randomized controlled study

This study evaluated the effect of EMDR therapy combined with a multimodal treatment, compared to an active control group, on pain perception, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and quality of life in adults aged 18 to 65 years diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Article Abstract

“Background: Fibromyalgia is associated with chronic pain, affective burden, and limited response to pharmacological treatment alone; emerging evidence suggests psychological interventions, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, may be beneficial. Chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia represents a complex clinical challenge due to its multifaceted symptomatology and its substantial impact on quality of life. This study evaluated the effect of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy combined with a multimodal treatment, compared to an active control group, on pain perception, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and quality of life in adults aged 18 to 65 years diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Methods: An experimental pretest–posttest design with an active control group was implemented, comprising 33 randomized participants, with a final analytic sample of 28 participants.

Results: The findings revealed significant reductions in pain perception and depressive symptoms in the experimental group (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing + multimodal treatment), whereas anxiety and quality of life showed no clinically meaningful changes. In contrast, the active control group maintained stable values, with only a slight improvement observed in the psychological component of quality of life.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that integrating Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing into multimodal management may constitute a promising adjunctive strategy for fibromyalgia treatment, particularly for reducing pain intensity and depressive symptomatology. However, larger samples and longer follow-up periods are necessary to confirm its efficacy.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access

Delgado Marín, W., Bedoya Gartner, M., & Landinez Martinez, D. A. (2026). Effect of EMDR combined with multimodal treatment on pain and depressive symptoms in adults with fibromyalgia: A preliminary randomized controlled study. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.13129/2282-1619/mjcp-5140