Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Versus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Asad Ullah Jan

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; PTSD

Treatments: Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy; Drug: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06955845

CMHNSR-REF-14

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy versus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Adult patients diagnosed with PTSD will be randomly assigned to receive either EMDR therapy or SSRIs for a period of six weeks. The primary outcome is the rate of remission as measured by validated PTSD symptom severity scales at Week 6. Secondary outcomes include changes in functional impairment and patient-reported quality of life. The study seeks to determine whether EMDR therapy is a non-pharmacological alternative to SSRIs for achieving symptom remission in PTSD.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Age 18-60 years

Clinical diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Duration of illness ≥ 6 months

Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Current substance abuse or dependence

History of psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder

Active suicidal ideation

Concurrent psychotherapy or psychiatric medication (except study-assigned SSRI)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

EMDR Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy over six weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)Treatment

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Sertraline over six weeks.

Treatment:

Drug: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors