The effect of twice-weekly versus once-weekly sessions of either imagery rescripting or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for adults with PTSD from childhood trauma (IREM-Freq): a study protocol for an international randomized clinical trial

Trials

Marie-Louise Meewisse¹  Carla J. Walton²  Carlijn J. M. Wibbelink³  Arnoud Arntz³  Sophie A. Rameckers³  Eva Fassbinder⁴  Sandra Köhne⁵  Thomas Ehring⁶  Christopher W. Lee⁷  Magda Mascini⁸  Nathan Bachrach⁹  Nexhmedin Morina^1,10  Ingrid G. Wigard^1,11  Saskia M. van Es^1,11  Simone Menninga^1,12  Sarah K. Dominguez^1,13  Kathleen Thomaes^1,14 

[1] Abate, Centre of Expertise in Anxiety and Trauma, Postweg 3, 1601 SX, Enkhuizen, the Netherlands;Centre for Psychotherapy, Hunter New England Mental Health Service, NSW, Australia, PO Box 833, 2300, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, the Netherlands;Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Niemannsweg 147, 24105, Kiel, Germany;Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany;Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany;Department of Psychology, LMU Munich, Leopoldstr. 13, 80802, Munich, Germany;Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, 6009, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;GGZ Noord-Holland-Noord, Stationsplein 138, 1703 WC, Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands;GGZ Oost Brabant, RINO Zuid and Tilburg University, Kluisstraat 2, 5427 EM, Boekel, the Netherlands;Institute of Psychology, University of Münster, Fliednerstr. 21, 48149, Muenster, Germany;PsyQ Amsterdam, Parnassia Groep, Overschiestraat 57, 1062 HN, Amsterdam, the Netherlands;PsyQ Beverwijk, Parnassia Groep, Leeghwaterweg 1a, 1951 NA, Velsen-Noord, the Netherlands;School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University and Sexual Assault Resource Centre, 90 South Street, 6150, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia;Sinai Center, the Psychotrauma Expertise Center of Arkin and Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Department Psychiatry and Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Laan van de Helende Meesters 2, 1186 AM, Amstelveen, the Netherlands;

关键词: Posttraumatic stress disorder;    Childhood;    Imagery rescripting;    Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing;    Treatment;    Randomized clinical trial;    Session frequency;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13063-021-05712-9

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundTrauma-focused treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are commonly delivered either once or twice a week. Initial evidence suggests that session frequency affects treatment response, but very few trials have investigated the effect of session frequency. The present study’s aim is to compare treatment outcomes of twice-weekly versus once-weekly sessions of two treatments for PTSD related to childhood trauma, imagery rescripting (ImRs) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). We hypothesize that both treatments will be more effective when delivered twice than once a week. How session frequency impacts treatment response, whether treatment type moderates the frequency effect, and which treatment type and frequency works best for whom will also be investigated.MethodsThe IREM-Freq trial is an international multicenter randomized clinical trial conducted in mental healthcare centers across Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands. We aim to recruit 220 participants, who will be randomized to one of four conditions: (1) EMDR once a week, (2) EMDR twice a week, (3) ImRs once a week, or (4) ImRs twice a week. Treatment consists of 12 sessions. Data are collected at baseline until one-year follow-up. The primary outcome measure is clinician-rated PTSD symptom severity. Secondary outcome measures include self-reported PTSD symptom severity, complex PTSD symptoms, trauma-related cognitions and emotions, depressive symptoms, dissociation, quality of life, and functioning. Process measures include memory, learning, therapeutic alliance, motivation, reluctance, and avoidance. Additional investigations will focus on predictors of treatment outcome and PTSD severity, change mechanisms of EMDR and ImRs, the role of emotions, cognitions, and memory, the optimization of treatment selection, learned helplessness, perspectives of patients and therapists, the network structure of PTSD symptoms, and sudden treatment gains.DiscussionThis study will extend our knowledge on trauma-focused treatments for PTSD related to childhood trauma and, more specifically, the importance of session frequency. More insight into the optimal session frequency could lead to improved treatment outcomes and less dropout, and in turn, to a reduction of healthcare costs. Moreover, the additional investigations will broaden our understanding of how the treatments work and variables that affect treatment outcome.Trial registrationNetherlands Trial Register NL6965, registered 25/04/2018.

【 授权许可】

CC BY