Citation

Valiente-Gómez A, Pujol N, Moreno-Alcázar A, Radua J, Monteagudo-Gimeno E, Gardoki-Souto I, Hogg B, Álvarez MJ, Safont G, Lupo W, Perez V, Amann BL. Front. Psychiatry 2020; 10.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Frontiers Media)

DOI

10.3389/fpsyt.2019.01023

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with a first episode psychosis (FEP) who are admitted for the first time to a psychiatric hospital frequently have experienced prior psychological trauma. Additionally, 40-80% develop posttraumatic stress symptoms, which are summarized as a post-psychotic post-traumatic syndrome (PPS). Eye Movement Desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy could be an effective psychotherapy to treat a PPS and prior psychological traumas in this population.

OBJECTIVES: To assess if EMDR therapy leads to: 1) a reduction of relapses after intervention, 2) an improvement of trauma-related, psychotic and affective symptoms, 3) an improvement of overall functioning, and 4) an improvement in quality of life.

METHODS: This is a multicenter phase II rater-blinded randomized controlled trial in which 80 FEP patients with a history of psychological trauma will be randomly assigned to EMDR (n = 40) or to TAU (n = 40). Traumatic events will be measured by the Global Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress Questionnaire, the Cumulative Trauma Screening, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Childhood Trauma Scale, the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory, and the Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire. Clinical symptomatology will be evaluated using the Suicide and Drug Consumption module of the International Neuropsychiatric Interview, Structured Clinical Interview for Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Young's Scale for Mania Evaluation, and Beck Depression II Questionnaire. Functionality will be assessed with the Global Assessment of Functioning and the Quality of Life with the Standardized Instrument developed by the EuroQol Group. The cognitive insight and adherence to the treatment will be assessed with the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale and the Drug Attitude Inventory. All variables will be measured at baseline, post-treatment and at 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION: This study will provide evidence of whether EMDR therapy is effective in reducing trauma and clinical symptoms, reducing relapses and in improving functionality and quality of life in patients with FEP and a history of trauma. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03991377. © Copyright © 2020 Valiente-Gómez, Pujol, Moreno-Alcázar, Radua, Monteagudo-Gimeno, Gardoki-Souto, Hogg, Álvarez, Safont, Lupo, Pérez, Amann and the FEP-EMDR Research Group.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; adult; human; aged; quality of life; psychotherapy; psychosis; randomized controlled trial; comorbidity; major clinical study; controlled study; questionnaire; psychotrauma; multicenter study; Article; structured interview; phase 2 clinical trial; mini international neuropsychiatric interview; Global Assessment of Functioning; DSM-5; first episode psychosis; medication compliance; treatment as usual; medical procedures; dissociative experiences scale; Beck Depression II Questionnaire; Childhood Trauma Scale; Cumulative Trauma Screening; Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire; EMDR therapy; eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy; Global Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress Questionnaire; Holmes Rahe Life Stress Inventory; Impact of Event Scale Revised; post-psychotic posttraumatic stress; psychological trauma; Structured Clinical Interview for Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale; Young Scale for Mania Evaluation