A Randomized Controlled Trial of Metacognitive Therapy and EMDR for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Launched by NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY · Sep 27, 2013

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

EMDR is based on the assumption that posttraumatic symptoms are due to the traumatic experience(s) being stored in an unprocessed way disconnected from existing memory networks. The procedure in EMDR is postulated to facilitate the processing of the traumatic memory into existing memory networks. There is currently no empirical knowledge as to the therapeutic mechanisms of EMDR, but the protocol overlaps with core components of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), such as imaginal exposure and cognitive restructuring of negative trauma-related cognitions. Thus, EMDR could be viewed as a form o...

Gender

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Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • a primary diagnosis of PTSD according to the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (ADIS-IV)
• • not previously received EMDR or MCT for this diagnosis
• • not actively suicidal, presenting with suicidal ideation, psychotic or suffering from severe depression
• • no evidence of alcohol or drug dependence
• • Symptom chronicity of \>3 months post-trauma
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • PTSD is not the primary diagnosis
• • expressing suicidal ideation, actively psychotic, or engaging in overt self-harm
• • Evidence of alcohol or drug dependence requiring treatment in its own right
• • Borderline personality disorder
• • Symptom chronicity \<3 months post-trauma
• • no ability to understand or speak Norwegian