EMDR Integrative Group Protocol and Individual Treatment for Patients With Cancer: A Pilot Study

Università Cattolica di Milano

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Neoplasm; Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Thyroid Neoplasms; Psychological Distress

Treatments: Behavioral: EMDR-IGTP-OTS

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07447089

CET 435-2025

Details and patient eligibility

About

The main aim of the present process-outcome study is to evaluate the feasibility and the effects of an EMDR-IGTP-OTS group intervention on a sample of people with cancer, by using a process-outcome study design, with repeated measures.

Full description

The diagnosis of cancer represents a potentially life-threatening event that can be considered a unique traumatic stressor. A cancer diagnosis can disrupt a person's life, affecting emotions, cognition, and physical pain impacting the individual sense of identity. Findings from the literature suggest that EMDR can be a valid treatment in the processing of cancer-related traumatic events. With this proposal, the investigators aim to evaluate the feasibility and the effects of a combined EMDR Integrative Group Treatment Protocol and an optional EMDR individual protocol for people with cancer.

Enrollment: 25 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 100 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• cancer diagnosis
• PTSD (IES-R > 32)

Exclusion criteria

• receiving specialized trauma therapy
• receiving current psychiatric pharmacological treatment, unless the dosage has been stable for at least 2 months prior to enrollment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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25 participants in 1 patient group

EMDR Treatment Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants receive an integrated EMDR intervention consisting of the EMDR Integrative Group Protocol (IGTP-OTS) followed by additional individual EMDR sessions when needed. The treatment focuses on processing traumatic memories related to personal experiences cancer-related.

Treatment:

Behavioral: EMDR-IGTP-OTS