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

## TL;DR

This study explores whether EMDR can help prevent post-traumatic symptoms in women who have experienced perinatal loss.

## Contribution

The study is the first to evaluate EMDR for preventing post-traumatic symptoms after perinatal loss.

## Key findings

- EMDR-RTEP was found to be feasible and well accepted by participants.
- Participants in the EMDR group reported higher perceived emotional change compared to usual care.
- Larger studies are needed to confirm the preliminary effectiveness of EMDR-RTEP.

## Abstract

Perinatal 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.

A 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.

Women 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).

EMDR-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.

https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT05701137.