Systematic Case Series Investigating Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Efficacy With Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors (EMDR)

A Systematic Case Series Study Investigating the Effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) in the Treatment of Childhood Sexual Abuse in Adolescents and Adult Survivors

This study investigates the effectiveness of EMDR for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. All participants will undertake a standard course of EMDR via the National Heath Service program, alongside a number of questionnaires and a follow-up interview.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Trauma, Psychological
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)

Detailed Description

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) via investigation of the changes in the individual trauma stress response on sexually abused adolescents and young adults, aged between 18 and 25 during EMDR treatment. The findings of this mixed methods study will explore (a) neuropsychological, emotional (namely low self-esteem, anxiety and depression), behavioural functioning and quality of life issues via quantitative measures conducted before, during and after treatment and (b) client perspectives of such changes through qualitative interviewing (interview guide is in Appendix 7) at one month follow-up using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis [IPA]. The study setting will be conducted within the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program framework, established to ensure service users accessing NHS treatment are presented with choice in their treatment. Therapy will routinely be delivered within GP Surgeries or Health Centres.

Within this two-fold study, the following key research questions will be considered in relation to the effectiveness of EMDR:

1. Qualitative data will sought to identify; In what ways was EMDR helpful? In what ways was EMDR perceived as being unhelpful?
2. Quantitative data will sought to identify; Are there changes in emotional and behavioural functioning (in relation to trauma, anxiety and depressive symptoms)? Are there changes in neuropsychological functioning (memory, attention, executive functioning)? Are there changes in quality of life issues? Are there changes in self-worth?

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 6
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Greater Manchester
    • Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, M219UN
      • Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust (GMMH - IAPT Headquarters, Chorlton House)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 25 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants, both male and female, aged between 18 and 25, whom;

• have experienced CSA before the age of 16
• exhibit PTSD symptomology
• ensure PTSD symptomology is present for over three-months and primarily derived from pre-16 aged trauma
• be available for treatment-sessions on a weekly basis for up to 16-sessions - have good understanding of the English language to avoid language barriers/additional time spent with interpreters
• if taking medication, this will have been stable for a period of at least 2-months prior to therapy
• EMDR is the sole treatment for PTSD from baseline until follow-up to avoid conflict of interest

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants exhibiting;

• significant psychiatric comorbidity
• comorbid psychotic disorder
• bipolar disorder type 1
• alcohol or drug dependence
• acute suicide risk, acute PTSD from trauma within the past 6 months
• PTSD focused treatment within the past 3 months or scheduled to begin another form of PTSD treatment will be excluded
• those currently participating in research or have recently participated in conflicting research

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR); Subjects with trauma-related symptomology resultant from CSA will undertake EMDR; they will be systematically observed through use of their quantitative treatment outcome measures at both pre- and post- treatment alongside one-month follow-up interview data to determine outcomes of interest (namely emotional, behavioural and neuropsychological functioning).

Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR); Trauma-Focused Therapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Impact of Events Scale-Revised 'IESR'	22-item self-report measure to evaluate impact of sexual abuse in terms of traumatic stress, abuse attributions and social reactions. Participants will be asked to rate their level of distress in relation to the said traumatic event on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("extremely"), ultimately providing the researcher with a total score (ranging from 0 to 88). The higher the score, the greater the PTSD symptomology.	Change from Baseline PTSD symptomology at up to 5 months
The Psychology Experiment Building Language 'PEBL' Test	The PEBL is an electronic neuropsychological battery utilised to monitor adaptations in participants' neuropsychological functioning.	Change from Baseline neuropsychological functioning at up to 5 months
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) Scale	Participants will be asked to rate their level of anxiety on a 7-point scale ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 3 ("nearly every day"), ultimately providing the researcher with a total score (ranging from 0 to 21). The higher the score, the greater the anxiety.	Change from Baseline anxiety levels at up to 5 months
Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) Scale	Participants will be asked to rate their level of depression on a 9-point scale ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 3 ("nearly every day"), ultimately providing the researcher with a total score (ranging from 0 to 27). The higher the score, the greater the depression.	Change from Baseline depression levels at up to 5 months
Weekly Problems Rating Scale	This consists of 11 statements that participants are requested to rate in order to describe their feelings and interactions during the past week to gauge general emotional and behavioural functioning. Answers/statements for all questions are from a choice of the following "never" "almost never" "a little of the time" "some of the time" "most of the time" "all of the time." Generally, the more negative the selected statement, the greater the indication of issues in functioning within that given domain.	Change from Baseline emotional and behavioural functioning at up to 5 months
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale 'RSES'	The 10-item RSES measures global self-worth by measuring both positive and negative feelings about the self. Participants will be asked to rate their level of self-worth by measuring both positive and negative feelings about the self. All items are answered using a 4-point Likert scale format as follows; "Strongly Disagree" 1 point, "Disagree" 2 points, "Agree" 3 points, and "Strongly Agree" 4 points,' ultimately providing the researcher with a total score (ranging from 10 to 40). Higher scores indicate higher self-esteem.	Change from Baseline levels of self-worth at up to 5 months
The Valued Living Questionnaire 'VLQ'	The VLQ is an instrument that taps into 10 valued domains of living as follows; 1. Family, 2. Marriage/couples/intimate relations, 3. Parenting, 4. Friendship, 5. Work, 6. Education, 7. Recreation, 8. Spirituality, 9. Citizenship, and 10. Physical self-care. Scoring: Respondents are asked to rate the 10 areas of life on a scale of 1 (not at all important) -10 (extremely important), indicating the level of importance and how consistently they have lived in accord with those values in the past week, ultimately providing the researcher with a total score (ranging from 10 to 100).	Change from Baseline quality of life issues at up to 5 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Helpful Aspects of Therapy Interview	A qualitative semi-structured interview at one-month follow up. The first seven questions of which will help identify helpful/unhelpful aspects of therapy and the final four questions focusing on effectiveness, ending and any recommendations for treatment.	One-month follow up

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Salford
• Investigators: Study Chair: Linda Dubrow-Marshall, University of Salford; Study Chair: Clare S Allely, University of Salford

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Brown SJ, Carter GJ, Halliwell G, Brown K, Caswell R, Howarth E, Feder G, O'Doherty L. Survivor, family and professional experiences of psychosocial interventions for sexual abuse and violence: a qualitative evidence synthesis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Oct 4;10(10):CD013648. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013648.pub2.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 17, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): November 3, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 22, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 24, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): May 29, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 28, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 27, 2021
• Last Verified: April 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: PTSD; childhood sexual abuse; adults; posttraumatic stress disorder; Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing; EMDR
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Psychological Trauma
• Other Study ID Numbers: 786

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No
• IPD Plan Description: This study forms part of a doctorate qualification, as per University policy, all data will comply will GDPR (2018) and may be stored on a University encrypted drive for up to three years. The thesis itself may contain non-identifiable patient data such as interview extracts however this will be limited to consent.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No