Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: In recent years, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has been applied to different psychiatric conditions beyond post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and an increasing number of studies have evaluated its effect on depression. To date, no quantitative synthesis of the...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1894736 |
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doaj-e965d0105ca543c6af3f76223a99a5bd2021-06-25T11:10:05ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662021-01-0112110.1080/20008198.2021.18947361894736Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysisSara Carletto0Francesca Malandrone1Paola Berchialla2Francesco Oliva3Nicoletta Colombi4Michael Hase5Arne Hofmann6Luca Ostacoli7University of TurinUniversity of TurinUniversity of TurinUniversity of TurinUniversity of TurinLüneburg Centre for Stress MedicineEMDR-InstituteUniversity of TurinBackground: In recent years, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has been applied to different psychiatric conditions beyond post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and an increasing number of studies have evaluated its effect on depression. To date, no quantitative synthesis of the efficacy of EMDR on depression has been conducted. Objective: To meta-analytically review the studies on EMDR for depression as the primary target for treatment. Method: Studies with a controlled design evaluating the effect of EMDR on depression were searched on six electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane database, and Francine Shapiro Library) and then selected by two independent reviewers. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Results: Eleven studies were included for qualitative synthesis. Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis, involving 373 participants. The overall effect size of EMDR for depressive symptoms is large (n = 9, Hedges’ g = – 1.07; 95%CI [–1.66; – 0.48]), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 84%), and corresponds to a ‘number needed to treat’ of 1.8. At follow-up (range 3–6 months), the effect remains significant but moderate (n = 3, Hedges’ g = – 0.62; 95%CI [–0.97; – 0.28]; I2 = 0%). The effect of EMDR compared with active controls is also moderate (n = 7, g = – 0.68; 95%CI [–0.92; – 0.43]; I2 = 0%). No publication bias was found, although the results are limited by the small number and poor methodological quality of the included studies. Conclusions: Review findings suggest that EMDR may be considered an effective treatment for improving symptoms of depression, with effects comparable to other active treatments. However, findings need to be interpreted in light of the limited number of the studies and their quality. Further research is required to understand the longer-term of effects EMDR in treating depression and preventing depression relapse. Protocol registration: PROSPERO (CRD42018090086).http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1894736eye movement desensitization and reprocessingemdrdepressionsystematic reviewmeta-analysistraumapsychotherapy |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Sara Carletto Francesca Malandrone Paola Berchialla Francesco Oliva Nicoletta Colombi Michael Hase Arne Hofmann Luca Ostacoli |
spellingShingle |
Sara Carletto Francesca Malandrone Paola Berchialla Francesco Oliva Nicoletta Colombi Michael Hase Arne Hofmann Luca Ostacoli Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis European Journal of Psychotraumatology eye movement desensitization and reprocessing emdr depression systematic review meta-analysis trauma psychotherapy |
author_facet |
Sara Carletto Francesca Malandrone Paola Berchialla Francesco Oliva Nicoletta Colombi Michael Hase Arne Hofmann Luca Ostacoli |
author_sort |
Sara Carletto |
title |
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
title_short |
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
title_full |
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
title_fullStr |
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
title_full_unstemmed |
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
title_sort |
eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
series |
European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
issn |
2000-8066 |
publishDate |
2021-01-01 |
description |
Background: In recent years, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has been applied to different psychiatric conditions beyond post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and an increasing number of studies have evaluated its effect on depression. To date, no quantitative synthesis of the efficacy of EMDR on depression has been conducted. Objective: To meta-analytically review the studies on EMDR for depression as the primary target for treatment. Method: Studies with a controlled design evaluating the effect of EMDR on depression were searched on six electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane database, and Francine Shapiro Library) and then selected by two independent reviewers. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Results: Eleven studies were included for qualitative synthesis. Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis, involving 373 participants. The overall effect size of EMDR for depressive symptoms is large (n = 9, Hedges’ g = – 1.07; 95%CI [–1.66; – 0.48]), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 84%), and corresponds to a ‘number needed to treat’ of 1.8. At follow-up (range 3–6 months), the effect remains significant but moderate (n = 3, Hedges’ g = – 0.62; 95%CI [–0.97; – 0.28]; I2 = 0%). The effect of EMDR compared with active controls is also moderate (n = 7, g = – 0.68; 95%CI [–0.92; – 0.43]; I2 = 0%). No publication bias was found, although the results are limited by the small number and poor methodological quality of the included studies. Conclusions: Review findings suggest that EMDR may be considered an effective treatment for improving symptoms of depression, with effects comparable to other active treatments. However, findings need to be interpreted in light of the limited number of the studies and their quality. Further research is required to understand the longer-term of effects EMDR in treating depression and preventing depression relapse. Protocol registration: PROSPERO (CRD42018090086). |
topic |
eye movement desensitization and reprocessing emdr depression systematic review meta-analysis trauma psychotherapy |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1894736 |
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