A Brief Narrative Summary of Randomized Controlled Trials Investigating EMDR Treatment of Patients With Depression

Malandrone, Francesca; Carletto, Sara; Hase, Michael; Hofmann, Arne; Ostacoli, Luca

doi:10.1891/1933-3196.13.4.302

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 15 publications

(15 reference statements)

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“…Previous reviews addressing this topic have been published (Carletto et al, 2017 ; Malandrone, Carletto, Hase, Hofmann, & Ostacoli, 2019 ; Wood & Ricketts, 2013 ), suggesting the potentiality of EMDR for depression but also highlighting the paucity of methodologically sound studies conducted until then. As other studies have been conducted in recent years, including some randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to update and add a quantitative analysis on the efficacy of EMDR for the treatment of depression.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Carletto

Malandrone

Berchialla

et al. 2021

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background : In recent years, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has been applied to different psychiatric conditions beyond post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and an increasing number of studies have evaluated its effect on depression. To date, no quantitative synthesis of the efficacy of EMDR on depression has been conducted. Objective : To meta-analytically review the studies on EMDR for depression as the primary target for treatment. Method : Studies with a controlled design evaluating the effect of EMDR on depression were searched on six electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane database, and Francine Shapiro Library) and then selected by two independent reviewers. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Results : Eleven studies were included for qualitative synthesis. Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis, involving 373 participants. The overall effect size of EMDR for depressive symptoms is large ( n = 9, Hedges’ g = – 1.07; 95%CI [–1.66; – 0.48]), with high heterogeneity ( I 2 = 84%), and corresponds to a ‘number needed to treat’ of 1.8. At follow-up (range 3–6 months), the effect remains significant but moderate ( n = 3, Hedges’ g = – 0.62; 95%CI [–0.97; – 0.28]; I 2 = 0%). The effect of EMDR compared with active controls is also moderate ( n = 7, g = – 0.68; 95%CI [–0.92; – 0.43]; I 2 = 0%). No publication bias was found, although the results are limited by the small number and poor methodological quality of the included studies. Conclusions : Review findings suggest that EMDR may be considered an effective treatment for improving symptoms of depression, with effects comparable to other active treatments. However, findings need to be interpreted in light of the limited number of the studies and their quality. Further research is required to understand the longer-term of effects EMDR in treating depression and preventing depression relapse. Protocol registration : PROSPERO (CRD42018090086).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Carletto

Malandrone

Berchialla

et al. 2021

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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“…PTSD [103] anxiety in older people [104] and depression in primary care [76] EMDR also has an established evidence base in reducing symptoms and improving remission rates in adults with PTSD, even in the long term [105]. Other preliminary evidence also suggests that EMDR may also be an effective treatment for both anxiety [106,107] and depressive disorders [108,109]. Future research in Southeast Asia should examine the effectiveness of both of these interventions through high quality RCT designs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological and social interventions for mental health issues and disorders in Southeast Asia: a systematic review

Maddock

Blair

Ean

et al. 2021

Int J Ment Health Syst

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Background Mental health issues and disorders are major public health challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries in Southeast Asia, where chronic shortages in mental health services and human resources exist. The development of effective and accessible mental health systems in Southeast Asia will require evidence based psychological and social interventions. This systematic review provides a narrative synthesis of the evidence on the effectiveness of such interventions for mental health issues and disorders in Southeast Asia. Methods A comprehensive literature search of 7 electronic databases (PsycINFO, Medline (Ovid), Cochrane library, EMBASE, SCOPUS, APA PsycArticles, and Social Care Online) was undertaken. Results Thirty two studies employing RCT designs to evaluate the effectiveness of a range of psychological and social mental health interventions on a number of different mental health outcomes were included in this review. The disparate intervention programmes reviewed were categorised as: lay delivered, yoga, aerobic and/or meditation based, cognitive behavioural therapy oriented, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing based (EMDR), health worker delivered, and hybrid programmes. The majority of the studies included in this review were of low to moderate quality due to the variability in the quality of the study design. The highest quality, and most promising evidence came from the evaluations of lay delivered interventions. This evidence demonstrates the feasibility and potential sustainability of implementing such interventions in resource constrained contexts. Conclusions The review findings indicate that a disparate array of mental health interventions can be implemented effectively in a range of Southeast Asian mental health and health settings. There is a clear need for significantly more research however, through higher quality and larger scale RCTs before it will be known more definitively, if these interventions are effective, and for whom they are most effective in different Southeast Asian contexts.

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“…EMDR therapy is an effective treatment for PTSD. 22 - 29 Additionally, EMDR therapy has been studied as a promising treatment for other mental health disorders such as anxiety disorders, 30 , 31 bipolar disorder, 32 obsessive compulsive disorder, 33 , 34 acute stress disorder, 35 depression, 36 , 37 psychosis, 38 and personality disorders. 39 The diverse range of clinical applications for EMDR therapy infers that this treatment is wide ranging in its healing, supporting the case for it to be implemented as a primary psychotherapy.…”

Section: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (Emdr) Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

The MET(T)A Protocol: Mindfulness and EMDR Treatment Template for Agencies

Dansiger¹,

Chabra²,

Emmel³

et al. 2020

Subst�Abuse

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Evidence indicating the relationship between trauma and substance use disorders (SUDs), in addition to relapse and treatment retention rates for this population, suggests there is a need for a trauma-focused solution to treat SUDs. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has been studied extensively as an effective approach for treating trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The research evaluating its treatment for other mental health disorders such as SUDs is promising. Merging mindfulness and ethical mindfulness practices with EMDR therapy lends additional evidence-based elements to make the case for this integrative system of treatment to be studied as a trauma-focused primary psychotherapy to treat SUDs. The resulting treatment, the MET(T)A Protocol (Mindfulness and EMDR Treatment Template for Agencies), has been created to address the need for a trauma-focused solution to treat SUDs. Procedures of the MET(T)A Protocol as applied in each of the 8 phases of EMDR therapy are described in detail. Clinical examples are provided to explain the application of the MET(T)A Protocol.

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A Brief Narrative Summary of Randomized Controlled Trials Investigating EMDR Treatment of Patients With Depression

Cited by 15 publications

References 15 publications

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Psychological and social interventions for mental health issues and disorders in Southeast Asia: a systematic review

The MET(T)A Protocol: Mindfulness and EMDR Treatment Template for Agencies

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