<p>The Effect of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) on the severity of suicidal thoughts in patients with major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial</p>

Abstract

ObjectiveDepression is a major risk factor for suicide and more than 90% of people who attempt suicide suffer from depression. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy on the severity of suicidal thoughts in patients with major depressive disorder.Study designRandomized Clinical Trial.MethodsThis clinical trial was performed on 70 people with major depressive disorder who exhibited suicidal thoughts. The patients were selected via convenience sampling and were randomly divided into control (n=35) and experimental (n=35) groups. EMDR was performed individually in the experimental group for 45–90 min, 3 days per week, on alternate days, for 3 weeks (9 sessions in total), whereas the controls group received routine treatment without intervention. Both groups completed the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI) at pre- and post-test. The obtained data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS 22 (α=0.05).ResultsMean BSSI score for the experimental group was reduced significantly at post-test (11.11±4.15) compared to pre-test (26.48±5.74) (p<0.001). Although the control group’s mean BSSI score was also reduced at post-test (24.93±4.42) compared to pre-test (26.68±5.05), this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05).ConclusionEMDR therapy has been shown in this study to reduce the severity of suicidal feelings. Therefore, it can be recommended as an alternative treatment method for reducing the severity of suicidal thoughts in patients with major depressive disorder.

Using EMDR therapy with patients in an acute mental health crisis

“…Despite this, there is widespread evidence for the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with individuals who are suicidal [8][9][10][11][12] and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) [13][14][15]. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) itself occurred twice in the literature [16,17] with Solution Focused Therapy [18][19][20] reporting some encouraging results both individually and within groups.…”

“…One paper described a retrospective case series of a number of patients who were treated using EMDR within a CRHTT, with the researchers finding that taking a trauma informed approach reduced the risk of suicide and prevented further presentations to a CRHTT [45]. More recently, EMDR has found to reduce the severity of suicidal thoughts in patients with major depressive disorder treated in an inpatient setting [16].…”

<p>Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing on the Quality of Life in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial</p>

“…1 The prevalence of major depressive disorder throughout the world is generally estimated at 3% to 6%, 2,3 and the prevalence of this disorder in Iran is reported to range from 5.69% to 73.3%. 4 Depression is a strong predictor of impaired quality of life in adults. 5,6 The results of previous studies suggested that even mild levels of depression are associated with a significant decrease in quality of life in adults.…”

“…18,19 One of the new techniques is the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), in which the therapist asks the patient to recall disturbing memories as they move their eyes, and as a result, the level of arousal is reduced and thoughts are reorganized. 4 EMDR therapy is an empirically validated trauma intervention which can be effective in treating psychological trauma. 4 The results of Gauhar YW (2016) study on the efficacy of EMDR in the treatment of depression showed that this technique was effective in treating depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder, and improved their quality of life and unpleasant thoughts.…”

“…4 EMDR therapy is an empirically validated trauma intervention which can be effective in treating psychological trauma. 4 The results of Gauhar YW (2016) study on the efficacy of EMDR in the treatment of depression showed that this technique was effective in treating depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder, and improved their quality of life and unpleasant thoughts. 20 Another study was conducted by Salehian et al (2016) that investigated the efficacy of EMDR on the quality of life in patients with myocardial infarction.…”