Psychological and immunological benefits of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in Hashimoto thyroiditis: Preliminary findings from a randomized controlled trial
This study examined the effectiveness of EMDR in improving psychological functioning and modulating immune markers in adults with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), a chronic autoimmune disorder increasingly linked to early trauma.
Article Abstract
“Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in improving psychological functioning and modulating immune markers in adults with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), a chronic autoimmune disorder increasingly linked to early trauma.
Method: In a randomized controlled trial, 91 adults with HT were assigned to EMDR plus treatment-as-usual (TAU), placebo plus TAU, or TAU alone. The EMDR protocol focused on processing ten distressing memories predating illness onset. Outcomes included anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) levels, and measures of depression, anxiety, stress, dissociation, alexithymia, trait anger, emotion regulation, and quality of life, assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up.
Results: EMDR led to significant improvements in dissociation, alexithymia, depression, anxiety, stress, trait anger, and emotion regulation, along with enhanced quality of life. These effects were maintained at follow-up and generally exceeded those of placebo or TAU. A significant reduction in anti-TPO levels was also observed in the EMDR group, although between-group effects at follow-up did not remain significant after correction for multiple comparisons. No significant differences were found in anti-TG levels.
Conclusion: EMDR may offer a clinically relevant adjunctive intervention for individuals with HT, reducing psychological distress and potentially influencing immune activity. Findings on immunomodulation are preliminary and warrant further investigation in larger trials.
Highlights:
- Over 96% of participants with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis reported cumulative early-life trauma.
- EMDR therapy, when added to standard care, significantly reduced anti-TPO titers and psychological symptoms, with effects sustained at 3-month follow-up
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Findings support trauma-focused care in multidisciplinary treatment of autoimmune disorders.
Clinical trial registration: The trial protocol was preregistered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04472988).”
—Description from publisher
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Macarenco, M., Opariuc-Dan, C., Georgescu, T., & Căciuloiu, L. (2025). Psychological and immunological benefits of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in Hashimoto thyroiditis: Preliminary findings from a randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 184, 107695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107695
Date
February 1, 2026
Creator(s)
Maria-Magdalena Macarenco, Cristian Opariuc-Dan, Teodora Georgescu
Contributor(s)
Livia Căciuloiu
Topics
Childhood Trauma, Medical/Somatic
Practice & Methods
Efficacy
Publisher
Elsevier, Ltd.
Rights
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
APA Citation
Macarenco, M., Opariuc-Dan, C., Georgescu, T., & Căciuloiu, L. (2025). Psychological and immunological benefits of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in Hashimoto thyroiditis: Preliminary findings from a randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 184, 107695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107695
Audience
EMDR Therapists
Language
English
Content Type
Article, Peer-Reviewed, RCT
Access Type
External Resource
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