Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy for psychosis (EMDRp) : Protocol of a feasibility randomised controlled trial with Early Intervention service users

Varese, Filippo and Sellwood, Bill and Aseem, Saadia and Awenat, Yvonne and Bird, Leanne and Bhutani, Gita and Carter, Lesley-Anne and Davis, Linda and Horne, Georgia and Keane, David and Logie, Robin and Malkin, Debra and Potter, Fiona and van den Berg, David and Zia, Shameem and Bentall, Richard (2021) Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy for psychosis (EMDRp) : Protocol of a feasibility randomised controlled trial with Early Intervention service users. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 15 (5). pp. 1224-1233. ISSN 1751-7885

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Abstract

Abstract Aim: Traumatic events are involved in the development and maintenance of psychotic symptoms. There are few trials exploring trauma-focused treatments as interventions for psychotic symptoms, especially in individuals with early psychosis. This trial will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of conducting a definitive trial of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing for psychosis (EMDRp) in people with early psychosis. Methods: 60 participants with first episode psychosis and a history of a traumatic/adverse life event(s) will be recruited from early intervention services in the North West of England and randomised to receive 16 sessions of EMDRp + Treatment as Usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Participants will be assessed at baseline, 6 months and 12 months post-randomisation using several measures of psychotic symptoms, trauma symptoms, anxiety, depression, functioning, service-user defined recovery, health economics indicators and quality of life. Two nested qualitative studies to assess participant feedback of therapy and views of professional stakeholders on the implementation of EMDRp into services will also be conducted. The feasibility of a future definitive efficacy and cost effectiveness evaluation of EMDRp will be tested against several outcomes, including ability to recruit and randomise participants, trial retention at 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments, treatment engagement and treatment fidelity. Conclusions: If it is feasible to deliver a multi-site trial of this intervention, it will be possible to evaluate whether EMDRp represents a beneficial treatment to augment existing evidence-based care of individuals with early psychosis supported by early intervention services.