Effectiveness of EMDR for adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adolescence has a high prevalence and risk of disability, but current treatments show limited effectiveness and high drop-out and relapse rates. Although the role of distressing experiences that relate to the development and maintenance of MDD has been recognized for decades, the efficacy of a trauma-focused treatment approach for MDD has hardly been studied. This study aims to to determine the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy as stand-alone intervention in adolescents diagnosed with MDD. It is hypothesized that the application of EMDR therapy is associated with a significant decrease in severity of depressive symptoms and decrease of percentage of patients meeting DSM-5 criteria for MDD compared to the waiting list. Furthermore, we hypothesize that treatment will be associated with a significant decrease in severity of co-morbid symptoms (i.e., post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety and overall social-emotional problems) compared to waiting list. In addition, we will examine whether baseline posttraumatic stress symptoms severity, family functioning and having experienced emotional abuse or neglect significantly predicts post-treatment outcome.

the application of EMDR therapy is associated with a significant decrease in severity of depressive symptoms and decrease of percentage of patients meeting DSM-5 criteria for MDD compared to the waiting list. Participants receiving EMDR report after treatment less comorbid PTSD, anxiety, somatic and social/emotional symptomatology. Higher level of post-traumatic stress symptoms at baseline predicts a stronger reduction of depressive symptomatology. Family dysfunctioning and having experienced emotional abuse or neglect predict smaller reductions of depressive symptomatology during treatment.

This study is a randomised controlled trial comparing an intervention group EMDR to a waiting list. Assessments are scheduled pre-treatment (T0), post-treatment (T1), at 3-months (T2) and at 6-months (T3) follow-up. Participants in the waiting list condition are offered EMDR treatment after T1, subsequently they are also assessed post-treatment and at 3- and 6-months follow-up. After pre-treatment assessment (T0) participants will be randomized assigned to EMDR or the waiting list. Participants in the EMDR intervention group receive EMDR treatment during six weeks (six sessions). Participant in the waiting list condition receive EMDR treatment during six weeks after a waiting time of eight weeks. To assess DSM-5 diagnosis of MDD as well as other diagnoses, a semi-structured face-to-face interview (K-SADS-PL-5; Kaufman et al., 2016) is conducted at all assessment points. Self-report questionnaires are also filled in at all assessment points. The FAD and CTQ are only filled in at baseline.

Participants in the EMDR intervention group receive EMDR treatment during six weeks (six sessions). Participant in the waiting list condition receive EMDR treatment during six weeks after a waiting time of eight weeks.