EMDR for Depressed People With Multiple Sclerosis

Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus Foundation

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Depression

Treatments

Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing - EMDR

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Industry

Identifiers

NCT04875832

5_16/10/2019

Details and patient eligibility

About

Several studies have reported high rates of depression in people with MS. Depressive symptoms represent a serious threat to quality of life and well-being. Furthermore, findings from the literature suggest that mechanisms underneath depressive features and loss of physical functions in MS could be related. The current study aims at investigating the feasibility of a fairly new type of psychotherapy known as "eye movement desensitization and reprocessing" (EMDR) on depression in people with MS. The goal of this intervention is to reduce the long-lasting effects of distressing memories by developing more adaptive coping mechanisms, through bilateral sensory stimulation. Together with the study on clinical measures, brain mechanisms of change will be assessed with MRI. Fifteen depressed or mildly depressed people with MS will be recruited. Participants will be assessed for depression, and quality of life, before and after the intervention. Participants will also undergo an MRI for brain structural and functional assessments before and after the EMDR intervention. The main aim of the study is to verify that EMDR is a feasible psychotherapeutic approach for people with depression and MS and to collect preliminary data on the efficacy of this type of intervention in reducing the depressive symptoms and improving the quality of life. The study, however, will not be limited to the analysis of outcome differences. The use of MRI assessments, in fact, will allow to explore possible brain change modifications related to depression reduction and/or symptoms modifications.

Enrollment

15 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Diagnosis of relapsing-remitting or progressive MS.
Presence of depressive symptomatology, with HADS scores > 8, confirmed by HDRS scores (clinical interview) > 14.
No change of pharmacological treatment in the 3 months before the enrolment.
Ability to communicate and to understand tasks.
No clinical relapses or use of steroid treatment during the 4 weeks before the enrolment.
Provided informed consent for study participation.

Exclusion criteria

Severe co-morbidity that would reduce life expectancy to less than one year (i.e. end-stage oncological diseases or severe cardiac dysfunction).
Severe neuropsychological impairment evaluated with the MMSE.
Psychosis or dissociative disorders.
No current psychotherapy treatment
Pregnancy.