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Randomized controlled trial investigating web-based, therapist delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for adults with suicidal ideation (Frontiers in Psychiatry)

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Home / Resources / Depression / Randomized controlled trial investigating web-based, therapist delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for adults with suicidal ideation (Frontiers in Psychiatry)

Randomized controlled trial investigating web-based, therapist delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for adults with suicidal ideation

This study investigated the application of online EMDR therapy in the treatment of suicidal ideation.


Article Abstract

“Introduction: Promising preliminary evidence suggests that EMDR may reduce suicidal ideation (SI) when used to treat Major Depressive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and trauma symptoms in the context of acute mental health crises. EMDR has never been tested specifically for treating SI, and there is a lack of data regarding the safety and effectiveness of web-based, therapist-delivered EMDR in populations with known SI. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of web-based, therapist-delivered EMDR, targeting experiences associated with suicidal thinking. Secondary objectives included examining the effect of EMDR treatment on symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, emotional dysregulation, and dissociation, as well as safety and attrition.

Methods: This randomized control trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID number: NCT04181047) assigned adult outpatients reporting SI to either a web-based EMDR intervention or a treatment as usual (TAU) group. TAU included primary and mental health services available within the Canadian public health system. Participants in the EMDR group received up to 12 web-based EMDR desensitization sessions, delivered twice weekly during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021-2023). The Health Research Ethics Board at the University of Alberta approved the protocol prior to initiation of data collection for this study (protocol ID number: Pro00090989).

Results: Forty-two adult outpatients received either EMDR (n=20) or TAU (n=22). Participants reported a high prevalence of early onset and chronic SI, and there was a high rate of psychiatric comorbidity. In the EMDR group, median SI, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic symptom scale scores decreased from baseline to the four month follow-up. In the TAU group, only the median SI and posttraumatic symptom scale scores decreased from baseline to four month follow up. Although sample size precludes direct comparison, there were numerically fewer adverse events and fewer dropouts in the EMDR group relative to the TAU group.

Conclusion: Study results provide promising preliminary evidence that web-based EMDR may be a viable delivery approach to address SI. In this complex population, a short treatment course was associated with reductions of SI and other symptoms across multiple diagnostic categories. Further investigation is warranted to verify and extend these results.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access 

Burback, L., Yap, S., Purdon, S. E., Abba-Aji, A., O’Shea, K., Bremault-Phillips, S., Greenshaw, A. J., & Winkler, O. (2024). Randomized controlled trial investigating web-based, therapist delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for adults with suicidal ideation. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15:1361086. Open access:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1361086

About the Journal

“Frontiers in Psychiatry is an interdisciplinary journal that focuses on translational and ‘bench-to-beside’ approaches to improve therapeutic options for mental illness and consequently to improve patient treatment outcomes.”

—Description from publisher

View the Resource
Basic Info Collapse

Date
February 16, 2024

Creator(s)
Lisa Burback, Sidney Yap, Scot E. Purdon

Contributor(s)
Dr. Adam Abba-Aji, Katie O'Shea, Suzette Brémault-Phillips, Andrew J. Greenshaw, Olga Winkler

Topics
Depression, Self-Harm/Suicidality

Practice & Methods
Telehealth

More Info Collapse

Publisher
Frontiers

Rights
© 2024 Burback, Yap, Purdon, Abba-Aji, O'shea, Brémault-Phillips, Greenshaw and Winkler. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

APA Citation
Burback, L., Yap, S., Purdon, S. E., Abba-Aji, A., O’Shea, K., Bremault-Phillips, S., Greenshaw, A. J., & Winkler, O. (2024). Randomized controlled trial investigating web-based, therapist delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for adults with suicidal ideation. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15:1361086. Open access:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1361086

Audience
EMDR Therapists, Other Mental Health Professionals

Language
English

Content Type
Article, Peer-Reviewed, RCT

Access Type
External Resource, Open Access

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Web-based eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for adults with suicidal ideation: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial (JMIR Research Protocols)

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