A pilot study of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing treatment (EMDR) for post-traumatic stress after childbirth

Sandström, Marianne; Wiberg, Britt; Wikman, Marianne; Willman, Anna-Klara; Högberg, Ulf

doi:10.1016/j.midw.2006.07.008

Cited by 41 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…One study was found that tried this method in PTSD after childbirth, and although only four subjects participated, the results are encouraging [85]. The study targeted women who were currently pregnant but presented PTSD symptoms as a consequence of a previous traumatic childbirth experience, and in this sense was a postnatal intervention.…”

Section: Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of post traumatic stress disorder after childbirth: a review

Lapp

Agbokou

Peretti

et al. 2010

Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology

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Prevalence and risk factors for the development of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth is well described in the literature. However, its management and treatment has only begun to be investigated. The aim of this article is to describe the studies that examine the effects of interventions on PTSD after childbirth. MedLine, PILOTS, CINAHL and ISI Web of Science databases were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials, pilot studies and case studies using key words related to PTSD, childbirth, treatment and intervention. The reference lists of the retrieved articles were also used to supplement the search. A total of nine studies were retrieved. Seven studies that examined debriefing or counselling were identified; six randomised controlled trials and one pilot study. Also found were one case report describing the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on two women, and one pilot study of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR). Overall, there is limited evidence concerning the management of women with PTSD after childbirth. The results agree with the findings from the non-childbirth related literature: debriefing and counselling are inconclusively effective while CBT and EMDR may improve PTSD status but require investigation in controlled trials before conclusions could be drawn.

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Section: Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of post traumatic stress disorder after childbirth: a review

Lapp

Agbokou

Peretti

et al. 2010

Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology

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“…We decided to focus on the bilateral stimulation used in EMDR; we suggest that changes in episodic memory in PTSD following EMDR (e.g., Rogers et al, 1999;Sandström, Wiberg, Wikman, Willman, & Högberg, 2008) might be based on neurophysiological mechanisms involved in memory generally. If so, then bilateral stimulation might alter episodic memory, regardless of whether such memories are traumatic.…”

Section: Saccadic Horizontal Ems: Relation To Memory Abilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interhemispheric Interaction and Saccadic Horizontal Eye MovementsImplications for Episodic Memory, EMDR, and PTSD

Propper¹,

Christman²

2008

J EMDR Prac Res

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The growing body of literature on the effects of bilateral saccadic eye movements, patterned after those employed in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), on memory is reviewed. Research indicates that engaging in bilateral saccadic eye movements prior to lab-based memory testing results in significant improvement in episodic memory across a wide range of memory tests. Other effects of these types of eye movements on hemispheric activation and emotional state are also discussed. The findings are interpreted within a framework suggesting that bilateral saccadic eye movements, such as those employed in EMDR, increase interaction between the left and right cerebral hemispheres. This framework is also used to explain the effects of such eye movements on memory during EMDR treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.

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“…However, research about treating PTSD following childbirth is limited to some small uncontrolled trials (Lapp, Agbokou, Peretti, & Ferreri, 2010), and even less is known about the benefits and risks of treatment during subsequent pregnancy. Only two small, uncontrolled studies with respectively four women (of which one pregnant) (Sandström, Wiberg, Wikman, Willman, & Högberg, 2008), and three pregnant women (Stramrood et al, 2012) provide some preliminary support for the notion that EMDR therapy can be safe and effective for PTSD following childbirth. A pilot study with four women (of which one pregnant), who fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, received an unknown number of EMDR therapy sessions (Sandström et al, 2008).…”

Section: Therapeutic Attitudes and Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only two small, uncontrolled studies with respectively four women (of which one pregnant) (Sandström, Wiberg, Wikman, Willman, & Högberg, 2008), and three pregnant women (Stramrood et al, 2012) provide some preliminary support for the notion that EMDR therapy can be safe and effective for PTSD following childbirth. A pilot study with four women (of which one pregnant), who fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, received an unknown number of EMDR therapy sessions (Sandström et al, 2008). Posttraumatic stress symptoms were reduced (mean score TES 52.7 before, 33.5 after treatment, 22.7 at follow-up), and two participants who completed the follow-up measurements no longer fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD after treatment.…”

Section: Therapeutic Attitudes and Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

The OptiMUM-study: EMDR therapy in pregnant women with posttraumatic stress disorder after previous childbirth and pregnant women with fear of childbirth: design of a multicentre randomized controlled trial

Baas

Stramrood

Dijksman

et al. 2017

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background: Approximately 3% of women develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after giving birth, and 7.5% of pregnant women show a pathological fear of childbirth (FoC). FoC or childbirth-related PTSD during (a subsequent) pregnancy can lead to a request for an elective caesarean section as well as adverse obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. For PTSD in general, and several subtypes of specific phobia, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has been proven effective, but little is known about the effects of applying EMDR during pregnancy. Objective: To describe the protocol of the OptiMUM-study. The main aim of the study is to determine whether EMDR therapy is an effective and safe treatment for pregnant women with childbirth-related PTSD or FoC. In addition, the cost-effectiveness of this approach will be analysed. Method: The single-blind OptiMUM-study consists of two two-armed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with overlapping design. In several hospitals and community midwifery practices in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, all eligible pregnant women with a gestational age between eight and 20 weeks will be administered the Wijma delivery expectations questionnaire (WDEQ) to asses FoC. Multiparous women will also receive the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) to screen for possible PTSD. The clinician administered PTSD scale (CAPS-5) will be used for assessing PTSD according to DSM-5 in women scoring above the PCL-5 cut-off value. Fifty women with childbirth-related PTSD and 120 women with FoC will be randomly allocated to either EMDR therapy carried out by a psychologist or care-as-usual. Women currently undergoing psychological treatment or women younger than 18 years will not be included. Primary outcome measures are severity of childbirth-related PTSD or FoC symptoms. Secondary outcomes are percentage of PTSD diagnoses, percentage caesarean sections, subjective childbirth experience, obstetrical and neonatal complications, and health care costs. Results: The results are meant to provide more insight about the safety and possible effectiveness of EMDR therapy during pregnancy for women with PTSD or FoC. Conclusion: This study is the first RCT studying efficacy and safety of EMDR in pregnant women with PTSD after childbirth or Fear of Childbirth.

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A pilot study of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing treatment (EMDR) for post-traumatic stress after childbirth

Cited by 41 publications

References 25 publications

Management of post traumatic stress disorder after childbirth: a review

Management of post traumatic stress disorder after childbirth: a review

Interhemispheric Interaction and Saccadic Horizontal Eye MovementsImplications for Episodic Memory, EMDR, and PTSD

The OptiMUM-study: EMDR therapy in pregnant women with posttraumatic stress disorder after previous childbirth and pregnant women with fear of childbirth: design of a multicentre randomized controlled trial

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