Treating trauma in psychosis with EMDR: a pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Trauma Studies

Background:

• Previous research indicates posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is treatable in patients with psychotic disorders.
• Existing treatments often involve lengthy protocols, adapted methods, or delayed exposure therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a brief Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) protocol for treating PTSD in individuals with comorbid psychotic disorders.
• To determine if standard EMDR protocols can be applied without modifications or preparatory stabilization techniques.

Main Methods:

• An open-label trial involving 27 adult subjects with diagnosed psychotic disorders and comorbid PTSD.
• Participants received a maximum of six sessions of EMDR therapy.
• Assessment of PTSD, psychotic, and additional symptoms occurred at baseline and post-treatment.

Main Results:

• The dropout rate was 18.5%.
• Significant improvements were observed in PTSD symptoms, auditory verbal hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem.
• No symptom exacerbation or adverse events (e.g., hospitalization, aggressive behavior) were reported.

Conclusions:

• A short-term EMDR therapy protocol is a safe and effective treatment for PTSD in patients with psychotic disorders.
• EMDR treatment positively impacts comorbid symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, and depression.
• Standard EMDR protocols can be utilized without adaptation or delay for this patient population.