A five-day inpatient EMDR treatment programme for PTSD: pilot study. Issue 1 (1st January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zepeda Méndez, Mayaris; Nijdam, Mirjam J.; ter Heide, F. Jackie June; van der Aa, Niels; Olff, Miranda
• Is Part Of: European journal of psychotraumatology. Volume 9:Issue 1(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-01-01
• Subjects: Posttraumatic stress disorder -- intensive treatment -- trauma-focused psychotherapy -- eye movement desensitization and reprocessing -- feasibility -- preliminary effect -- yoga; 创伤后应激障碍，强化治疗，创伤中心心理治疗，眼动脱敏和再加工，可行性，早期效果，瑜伽; Trastorno de estrés postraumático -- tratamiento intensivo -- psicoterapia centrada en el trauma -- desensibilización y reprocesamiento por movimientos oculares -- viabilidad -- efecto preliminar -- yoga; This pilot study investigated the potential benefits of a five-day inpatient treatment programme with EMDR and trauma-informed yoga for patients with PTSD. After two weeks, nine out of 12 patients reported a reliable change in self-reported PTSD symptoms. Although further research is needed to properly investigate the effects, the treatment programme was promising in showing a reduction in symptoms in a short time frame.; Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Periodicals; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 616.8521
• DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2018.1425575
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2000-8198

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : Trauma-focused psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been demonstrated to be efficacious, but also have considerable non-response and dropout rates. Intensive treatment may lead to faster symptom reduction, which may contribute to treatment motivation and thereby to reduction of dropout. Objective : The aim of the current study was to investigate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an intensive five-day inpatient treatment with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma-informed yoga for patients with PTSD. Method : A non-controlled pilot study with 12 adult patients with PTSD was conducted. At baseline the PTSD diagnosis was assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) and comorbid disorders with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Primary outcome was self-reported PTSD symptom severity (PTSD Check List for DSM-5; PCL-5) measured at the beginning of day 1 (T1), at the end of day 5 (T2) and at follow-up on day 21 (T3). Reliable change indexes (RCI) and clinically significant changes were calculated. Results : From T1 to T3, PTSD symptoms significantly improved with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 0.91). Nine of the 11 patients who completed treatment showed reliable changes in terms of self-reported PTSD. At T3, two of the patients no longer met criteria for PTSD as measured with the PCL-5. One patient dropped out after the first day. No serious adverse events occurred. Conclusions : The majority of patients in our pilot study experienced symptom reduction consistent with reliable changes in this five-day inpatient treatment with EMDR and yoga. Randomized controlled trials – with longer follow up periods – are needed to properly determine efficacy and efficiency of intensive clinical treatments for PTSD compared to regular treatment. This is one of the first studies to show that intensive EMDR treatment is feasible and is indicative of reliable improvement in PTSD symptoms in a very short time frame.