The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for depression: A meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials
This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of EMDR in treating depression and to identify the variables influencing its effectiveness.
Article Abstract
“Background: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has gained attention for its potential effectiveness in treating depression beyond its initial use for PTSD. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of EMDR in treating depression and to identify the variables influencing its effectiveness.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE, covering studies up to January 2023. A total of 521 studies were screened, and 25 studies with 1042 participants (522 EMDR, 520 control) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The inclusion criteria involved randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing EMDR to control conditions such as usual care or waitlist groups, with outcomes focused on changes in depression symptoms.
Results: The results show that EMDR had a significant effect on reducing depression symptoms (Hedges’ g = 0.75), with moderate heterogeneity being observed. The meta-regression indicated that the severity of depression was a significant predictor of EMDR’s effectiveness, with greater effects in severe cases. Additionally, the systematic review analyzed and evaluated various theoretical models and related studies that explain how EMDR works for the treatment of depression, reporting on neurobiological models proposed in previous research.
Conclusions: This study confirms that EMDR is effective in treating depression, particularly in severe cases, and highlights its potential as a non-pharmacological intervention. However, this study highlights the need for more standardized research and long-term evaluations to assess EMDR’s lasting impact. Integrating EMDR into multimodal treatment plans and primary care, especially for treatment-resistant depression, could significantly improve patient outcomes.”
—Description from publisher
Article Access
Open Access
Seok, J-W., Kim, J. (2024). The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for depression: A meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(18), 5633. Open access: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13185633
Date
September 23, 2024
Creator(s)
Ji-Woo Seok, Joong Il Kim
Topics
Depression
Practice & Methods
Efficacy
Extent
20 pages
Publisher
MDPI
Rights
Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
APA Citation
Seok, J-W., Kim, J. (2024). The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for depression: A meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(18), 5633. Open access: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13185633
Audience
EMDR Therapists, Other Mental Health Professionals
Language
English
Content Type
Article, Meta-analyses/Systematic Reviews, Peer-Reviewed
Access Type
External Resource, Open Access