Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention for the prevention of post- traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss: a randomized pilot controlled trial

BackgroundPerinatal loss is a situation with significant traumatic potential. However, no study has evaluated the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for the prevention or treatment of post-traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss. The aim of this study was to assess th...

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Main Authors: Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey, Cristina Garcia-Gibert, Amparo Martínez, Yolanda Giménez, Xavier Segú, Aida Mallorquí, Estel Gelabert, Alba Roca-Lecumberri, Anna Torres-Giménez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1593306/full
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author Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey
Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey
Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey
Cristina Garcia-Gibert
Cristina Garcia-Gibert
Amparo Martínez
Amparo Martínez
Yolanda Giménez
Yolanda Giménez
Xavier Segú
Xavier Segú
Aida Mallorquí
Aida Mallorquí
Estel Gelabert
Alba Roca-Lecumberri
Alba Roca-Lecumberri
Alba Roca-Lecumberri
Anna Torres-Giménez
Anna Torres-Giménez
Anna Torres-Giménez
Anna Torres-Giménez
author_facet Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey
Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey
Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey
Cristina Garcia-Gibert
Cristina Garcia-Gibert
Amparo Martínez
Amparo Martínez
Yolanda Giménez
Yolanda Giménez
Xavier Segú
Xavier Segú
Aida Mallorquí
Aida Mallorquí
Estel Gelabert
Alba Roca-Lecumberri
Alba Roca-Lecumberri
Alba Roca-Lecumberri
Anna Torres-Giménez
Anna Torres-Giménez
Anna Torres-Giménez
Anna Torres-Giménez
author_sort Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundPerinatal loss is a situation with significant traumatic potential. However, no study has evaluated the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for the prevention or treatment of post-traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an EMDR recent traumatic episode protocol (EMDR-RTEP) as a preventive intervention for post-traumatic symptoms after perinatal loss.Materials and methodsA one-site, open label, randomized controlled pilot trial was designed. A total of 40 women who had suffered perinatal loss in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Service of a tertiary university hospital were recruited. The women were randomized to the EMDR-RTEP (n=20) or treatment as usual (TAU, n=20). Post-traumatic, depressive, anxiety and intensity of perinatal grief symptoms were assessed using standardized instruments at baseline and 3 months after perinatal loss (post-treatment). We performed an intention-to-treat analysis using analysis of covariance with baseline scores as covariates.ResultsWomen who received the EMDR-RTEP scored non-significantly lower than women who received TAU in all post-treatment outcomes. According to a satisfaction scale (CRES-4), women who received the EMDR-RTEP had a higher perceived emotional change than women who received TAU (U = 69.5, p = .011).ConclusionsEMDR-RTE is a feasible intervention, that is well accepted and tolerated by women after perinatal loss, with adequate satisfaction. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm these results.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://www.clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT05701137.
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spelling doaj-art-5c95dfdf02384247986fe52d16da4afa2025-08-20T03:09:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-06-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15933061593306Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention for the prevention of post- traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss: a randomized pilot controlled trialBàrbara Sureda-Caldentey0Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey1Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey2Cristina Garcia-Gibert3Cristina Garcia-Gibert4Amparo Martínez5Amparo Martínez6Yolanda Giménez7Yolanda Giménez8Xavier Segú9Xavier Segú10Aida Mallorquí11Aida Mallorquí12Estel Gelabert13Alba Roca-Lecumberri14Alba Roca-Lecumberri15Alba Roca-Lecumberri16Anna Torres-Giménez17Anna Torres-Giménez18Anna Torres-Giménez19Anna Torres-Giménez20Unitat de Salut Mental Perinatal CLINIC-Barcelona, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry and Clinical Psychology Service, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainUnitat de Salut Mental Perinatal CLINIC-Barcelona, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, SpainSexual and Reproductive Health Care Assistance Center, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Deu, Cerdanyola del Vallès, SpainUnitat de Salut Mental Perinatal CLINIC-Barcelona, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, SpainMaternal Fetal Medicine Service, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, SpainUnitat de Salut Mental Perinatal CLINIC-Barcelona, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, SpainMaternal Fetal Medicine Service, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry and Clinical Psychology Service, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, SpainClinical Health Psychology Section, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry and Clinical Psychology Service, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, SpainClinical Health Psychology Section, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, SpainDepartament of Clinical and Health Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainUnitat de Salut Mental Perinatal CLINIC-Barcelona, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry and Clinical Psychology Service, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, SpainInstitut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, SpainUnitat de Salut Mental Perinatal CLINIC-Barcelona, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry and Clinical Psychology Service, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainInstitut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, SpainBackgroundPerinatal loss is a situation with significant traumatic potential. However, no study has evaluated the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for the prevention or treatment of post-traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an EMDR recent traumatic episode protocol (EMDR-RTEP) as a preventive intervention for post-traumatic symptoms after perinatal loss.Materials and methodsA one-site, open label, randomized controlled pilot trial was designed. A total of 40 women who had suffered perinatal loss in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Service of a tertiary university hospital were recruited. The women were randomized to the EMDR-RTEP (n=20) or treatment as usual (TAU, n=20). Post-traumatic, depressive, anxiety and intensity of perinatal grief symptoms were assessed using standardized instruments at baseline and 3 months after perinatal loss (post-treatment). We performed an intention-to-treat analysis using analysis of covariance with baseline scores as covariates.ResultsWomen who received the EMDR-RTEP scored non-significantly lower than women who received TAU in all post-treatment outcomes. According to a satisfaction scale (CRES-4), women who received the EMDR-RTEP had a higher perceived emotional change than women who received TAU (U = 69.5, p = .011).ConclusionsEMDR-RTE is a feasible intervention, that is well accepted and tolerated by women after perinatal loss, with adequate satisfaction. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm these results.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://www.clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT05701137.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1593306/fullEMDR recent traumatic episode protocolstillbirthperinatal losspost-traumatic symptomsPTSDperinatal grief
spellingShingle Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey
Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey
Bàrbara Sureda-Caldentey
Cristina Garcia-Gibert
Cristina Garcia-Gibert
Amparo Martínez
Amparo Martínez
Yolanda Giménez
Yolanda Giménez
Xavier Segú
Xavier Segú
Aida Mallorquí
Aida Mallorquí
Estel Gelabert
Alba Roca-Lecumberri
Alba Roca-Lecumberri
Alba Roca-Lecumberri
Anna Torres-Giménez
Anna Torres-Giménez
Anna Torres-Giménez
Anna Torres-Giménez
Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention for the prevention of post- traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss: a randomized pilot controlled trial
Frontiers in Psychiatry
EMDR recent traumatic episode protocol
stillbirth
perinatal loss
post-traumatic symptoms
PTSD
perinatal grief
title Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention for the prevention of post- traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss: a randomized pilot controlled trial
title_full Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention for the prevention of post- traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss: a randomized pilot controlled trial
title_fullStr Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention for the prevention of post- traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss: a randomized pilot controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention for the prevention of post- traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss: a randomized pilot controlled trial
title_short Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention for the prevention of post- traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss: a randomized pilot controlled trial
title_sort effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention for the prevention of post traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss a randomized pilot controlled trial
topic EMDR recent traumatic episode protocol
stillbirth
perinatal loss
post-traumatic symptoms
PTSD
perinatal grief
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1593306/full
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