Brief intensive EMDR therapy for PTSD in adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning and behavioural problems: a multiple baseline design study
Background: Individuals with mild intellectual disability (MID; IQ 50–70) or borderline intellectual functioning (BIF; IQ 70–85) are at an elevated risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with PTSD symptoms possibly associated with behavioural problems. It is important to test the effectivene...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2025.2495642 |
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| author | Anne Versluis Ad de Jongh Liesbeth Mevissen Carlo Schuengel Lianne Bakkum Robert Didden |
| author_facet | Anne Versluis Ad de Jongh Liesbeth Mevissen Carlo Schuengel Lianne Bakkum Robert Didden |
| author_sort | Anne Versluis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Individuals with mild intellectual disability (MID; IQ 50–70) or borderline intellectual functioning (BIF; IQ 70–85) are at an elevated risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with PTSD symptoms possibly associated with behavioural problems. It is important to test the effectiveness of trauma-focused treatments, such as eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, for adults with MID–BIF, PTSD, and severe behavioural problems.Objective: To determine the safety and effectiveness of brief intensive EMDR therapy carried out by a team of rotating therapists in adults with MID-BIF, PTSD, and severe behavioural problems.Methods: Using a randomised non-concurrent multiple baseline between-subjects design, 11 adults with MID-BIF, PTSD, and severe behavioural problems received a maximum of 16 intensive EMDR sessions twice daily for a maximum of two weeks from six different EMDR therapists. Primary outcome measurements included severity of PTSD symptoms, PTSD diagnostic status, and adverse events. Secondary outcome measurements included the frequency and severity of behavioural problems, presence of adaptive behaviour, and the use of involuntary care. Outcome measurements were assessed at baseline, during the intervention and post-intervention phases, and at the follow-up phases, and subject to randomisation tests for statistical significance.Results: Intensive EMDR therapy carried out by a team of rotating therapists resulted in significant decreases in PTSD symptoms (Mdifference = 15.84, p < .001) with nine of 11 participants no longer meeting the PTSD diagnostic criteria immediately following treatment and at the 9-week follow-up. Randomisation tests revealed no significant changes in adaptive behaviour, frequency, and severity of behavioural problems. Additionally, no decrease in the use of involuntary care measures was observed. One participant dropped out; no adverse events were observed.Conclusions: Brief intensive EMDR therapy for individuals with MID-BIF and severe behavioural problems, conducted by a team of rotating therapists, can be done safely and effectively to reduce PTSD symptoms. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-328828bfb628406fa08ae682a9c7ea52 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj-art-328828bfb628406fa08ae682a9c7ea522025-08-20T01:52:11ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662025-12-0116110.1080/20008066.2025.2495642Brief intensive EMDR therapy for PTSD in adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning and behavioural problems: a multiple baseline design studyAnne Versluis0Ad de Jongh1Liesbeth Mevissen2Carlo Schuengel3Lianne Bakkum4Robert Didden5Advisium, ‘s Heeren Loo, Amersfoort, The NetherlandsInstitute of Health and Society, University of Worcester, Worcester, UKPsychotrauma Practice, Rha, The NetherlandsFaculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Section Clinical Child and Family Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsFaculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Section Clinical Child and Family Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsBehavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsBackground: Individuals with mild intellectual disability (MID; IQ 50–70) or borderline intellectual functioning (BIF; IQ 70–85) are at an elevated risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with PTSD symptoms possibly associated with behavioural problems. It is important to test the effectiveness of trauma-focused treatments, such as eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, for adults with MID–BIF, PTSD, and severe behavioural problems.Objective: To determine the safety and effectiveness of brief intensive EMDR therapy carried out by a team of rotating therapists in adults with MID-BIF, PTSD, and severe behavioural problems.Methods: Using a randomised non-concurrent multiple baseline between-subjects design, 11 adults with MID-BIF, PTSD, and severe behavioural problems received a maximum of 16 intensive EMDR sessions twice daily for a maximum of two weeks from six different EMDR therapists. Primary outcome measurements included severity of PTSD symptoms, PTSD diagnostic status, and adverse events. Secondary outcome measurements included the frequency and severity of behavioural problems, presence of adaptive behaviour, and the use of involuntary care. Outcome measurements were assessed at baseline, during the intervention and post-intervention phases, and at the follow-up phases, and subject to randomisation tests for statistical significance.Results: Intensive EMDR therapy carried out by a team of rotating therapists resulted in significant decreases in PTSD symptoms (Mdifference = 15.84, p < .001) with nine of 11 participants no longer meeting the PTSD diagnostic criteria immediately following treatment and at the 9-week follow-up. Randomisation tests revealed no significant changes in adaptive behaviour, frequency, and severity of behavioural problems. Additionally, no decrease in the use of involuntary care measures was observed. One participant dropped out; no adverse events were observed.Conclusions: Brief intensive EMDR therapy for individuals with MID-BIF and severe behavioural problems, conducted by a team of rotating therapists, can be done safely and effectively to reduce PTSD symptoms.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2025.2495642Post-traumatic stress disorderintensive EMDR-therapyrotating therapistsmild intellectual disabilityborderline intellectual functioningrotating therapists |
| spellingShingle | Anne Versluis Ad de Jongh Liesbeth Mevissen Carlo Schuengel Lianne Bakkum Robert Didden Brief intensive EMDR therapy for PTSD in adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning and behavioural problems: a multiple baseline design study European Journal of Psychotraumatology Post-traumatic stress disorder intensive EMDR-therapy rotating therapists mild intellectual disability borderline intellectual functioning rotating therapists |
| title | Brief intensive EMDR therapy for PTSD in adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning and behavioural problems: a multiple baseline design study |
| title_full | Brief intensive EMDR therapy for PTSD in adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning and behavioural problems: a multiple baseline design study |
| title_fullStr | Brief intensive EMDR therapy for PTSD in adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning and behavioural problems: a multiple baseline design study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Brief intensive EMDR therapy for PTSD in adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning and behavioural problems: a multiple baseline design study |
| title_short | Brief intensive EMDR therapy for PTSD in adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning and behavioural problems: a multiple baseline design study |
| title_sort | brief intensive emdr therapy for ptsd in adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning and behavioural problems a multiple baseline design study |
| topic | Post-traumatic stress disorder intensive EMDR-therapy rotating therapists mild intellectual disability borderline intellectual functioning rotating therapists |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2025.2495642 |
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