COVID-19, Isolation, Quarantine: On the Efficacy of Internet-Based Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Ongoing Trauma

Brain Sciences

Antonio Onofri¹  Paola Castelli¹  Cecilia La Rosa¹  RinaldoLivio Perri²  Teresa Zucchi³ 

[1]De Sanctis Clinical Center, 00166 Rome, Italy

[2]Faculty of Psychology, University Niccolò Cusano, Via Don Carlo Gnocchi 3, 00166 Rome, Italy

[3]Zucchi Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Office, Private Practice, Via Giuseppe Catani, 28/C, 59100 Prato, Italy

关键词: EMDR;    CBT;    COVID-19;    psychotherapy;    online therapy;    trauma;   

DOI  :  10.3390/brainsci11050579

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Literature points to cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) as evidence-based therapies for trauma-related disorders. Treatments are typically administered in a vis-à-vis setting with patients reporting symptoms of a previously experienced trauma. Conversely, online-therapies and ongoing trauma have not received adequate attention. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two brief treatments for health professionals and individuals suffering from the circumstances imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The EMDR and the trauma focused-CBT were administered online during the earliest stage of distress to manage the ongoing trauma associated to quarantine or disease. Thirty-eight patients satisfying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for acute stress disorder were randomly assigned to the EMDR or CBT treatment. Both groups received a 7-session therapy, and psychometric tests were administered before, after the treatment and at one-month follow-up to assess traumatic symptoms, depression and anxiety. Results revealed that both treatments reduced anxiety by 30%, and traumatic and depressive symptoms by 55%. Present findings indicate the internet-based EMDR and CBT as equally effective brief treatments, also suggesting a maintenance of the effects as indicated by the follow-up evaluation. The EMDR and CBT might be considered as first line therapies to treat the ongoing trauma and to prevent the sensitization and accumulation of trauma memories.

【 授权许可】

Unknown