Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for psychosis (EMDRp): Protocol of a feasibility randomized controlled trial with early intervention service users (Early Intervention in Psychiatry)

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for psychosis (EMDRp): Protocol of a feasibility randomized controlled trial with early intervention service users

Few trials explore trauma-focused treatments as interventions for psychotic symptoms, especially in individuals with early psychosis.

Article Abstract

“Aim: Traumatic events are involved in the development and maintenance of psychotic symptoms. There are few trials exploring trauma-focused treatments as interventions for psychotic symptoms, especially in individuals with early psychosis. This trial will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of conducting a definitive trial of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for psychosis (EMDRp) in people with early psychosis.

Methods: Sixty participants with first episode psychosis and a history of a traumatic/adverse life event(s)will be recruited from early intervention services in the North West of England and randomized to receive16 sessions of EMDRp + Treatment as Usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Participants will be assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months post-randomization using several measures of psychotic symptoms, trauma symptoms, anxiety, depression, functioning, service-user defined recovery, health economics indicators and quality of life. Two nested qualitative studies to assess participant feedback of therapy and views of professional stakeholders on the implementation of EMDRp into services will also be conducted. The feasibility of a future definitive efficacy and cost-effectiveness evaluation of EMDRp will be tested against several outcomes, including ability to recruit and randomize participants, trial retention at 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments, treatment engagement and treatment fidelity.

Conclusions: If it is feasible to deliver a multi-site trial of this intervention, it will be possible to evaluate whether EMDRp represents a beneficial treatment to augment existing evidence-based care of individuals with early psychosis supported by early intervention services.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access

Varese, F., Sellwood, W., Aseem, S., Awenat, Y., Bird, L., Bhutani, G., Carter, L-A., Davies, L., Davis, C., Horne, G., Keane, D., Logie, R., Malkin, D., Potter, F., van den Berg, D., Zia, S., & Bentall, R. (2020). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for psychosis (EMDRp): Protocol of a feasibility randomized controlled trial with early intervention service users. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, online view. Open access: https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.13071

About the Journal

“Early Intervention in Psychiatry is a broad-scope psychiatry journal focusing on the early diagnosis and treatment of all mental ill-health and mental illness, covering psychopathology, clinical epidemiology, biological mechanisms, treatments, clinical trials, health services, and mental health policy.”

—Description from publisher

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Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for psychosis (EMDRp): Protocol of a feasibility randomized controlled trial with early intervention service users (Early Intervention in Psychiatry)