NCT06955845

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

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

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (actual)
• Sponsor: Asad Ullah Jan · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

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.

Conditions

• PTSD
• PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy	Patients in this arm will receive weekly EMDR sessions for 6 weeks
DRUG	Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors	The patients will receive an SSRI medication daily for 6 weeks. The dose will be titrated by the clinician.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-05-06
• Primary completion: 2025-11-30
• Completion: 2025-12-31
• First posted: 2025-05-02
• Last updated: 2025-07-09

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Pakistan