Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Compared to Treatment As Usual (TAU) in Psychiatric Inpatients With Severe Mental Disorder and a History of Psychological Trauma

Detailed Summary

The study of psychological trauma has become increasingly important in the field of mental health research due to the strong negative impact it has on the course and prognosis of psychiatric pathologies. However, from a clinical point of view it is still an overlooked and even ignored component. There is scientific evidence that treating traumatic events at outpatient hospital services in patients with severe mental disorder improves both trauma-related symptoms and clinical symptoms. A first-line treatment for psychological trauma is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. This therapy is recommended by the World Health Organization for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and which has obtained promising first results in patients with severe mental disorder. This project proposes to test whether EMDR therapy in addition to standard treatment is more effective than standard treatment alone in psychiatric in-patients with severe mental disorder, in terms of reducing symptoms related to psychopathology and trauma, and in terms of improving functioning. Our first hypothesis is that EMDR will be more effective than standard treatment alone in reducing the severity of psychiatric symptoms. Our second hypothesis is that EMDR will be more effective than standard treatment alone in reducing the severity of trauma-related symptoms. Our third hypothesis is that EMDR will be more effective than standard treatment alone in improving functioning.

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