Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Versus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: PTSD; PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Interventions: Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy; Drug: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

• Registration Number: NCT06955845
• Lead Sponsor: Asad Ullah Jan

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy versus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Adult patients diagnosed with PTSD will be randomly assigned to receive either EMDR therapy or SSRIs for a period of six weeks. The primary outcome is the rate of remission as measured by validated PTSD symptom severity scales at Week 6. Secondary outcomes include changes in functional impairment and patient-reported quality of life. The study seeks to determine whether EMDR therapy is a non-pharmacological alternative to SSRIs for achieving symptom remission in PTSD.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2025-04-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-04-25
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-02
• Study Start: 2025-05-06
• Status Verified: 2025-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-04
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-09
• Primary Completion: 2025-11-30
• Study Completion: 2025-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

Age 18-60 years

Clinical diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Duration of illness ≥ 6 months

Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

Current substance abuse or dependence

History of psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder

Active suicidal ideation

Concurrent psychotherapy or psychiatric medication (except study-assigned SSRI)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
EMDR Therapy	Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy	Participants will receive Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy over six weeks.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)Treatment	Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors	Participants will receive selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Sertraline over six weeks.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Remission rate at Week 6	6 weeks	Each group's proportion of participants achieving remission from PTSD is defined as having a score below 22 on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5; range 0-80, where higher scores indicate worse PTSD symptoms), a validated PTSD scale.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in functional impairment score	6 weeks	Change from baseline to 6 weeks in functional impairment as measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF; range 26-130, higher scores = better quality of life), a validated quality of life scale.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Combined Military Hospital; 🇵🇰 Nowshera, KPK, Pakistan

Department of Psychiatry, Combined Military Hospital Nowshera; 🇵🇰 Nowshera, Kpk, Pakistan

Combined Military Hospital

🇵🇰Nowshera, KPK, Pakistan

Asad Ullah Jan

Contact

0092923610029

asad2097@gmail.com

Asad Ullah Jan, MBBS,FCPS

Principal Investigator