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

N/AActive Not RecruitingNCT06955845

Asad Ullah Jan60 enrolled

Overview

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

PTSD PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 60 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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)

Locations (2)

Combined Military Hospital

Nowshera, KPK, Pakistan

Department of Psychiatry, Combined Military Hospital Nowshera

Nowshera, Kpk, Pakistan

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Remission rate at Week 6

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.

Time frame: 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Change in functional impairment score

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.

Time frame: 6 weeks