title: Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy v. stabilisation as usual for refugees: randomised controlled trial.
abstract: Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a first-line treatment for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some clinicians argue that with refugees, directly targeting traumatic memories through EMDR may be harmful or ineffective.
  
  
  
  To determine the safety and efficacy of EMDR in adult refugees with PTSD (trial registration: ISRCTN20310201).
  
  
  
  In total, 72 refugees referred for specialised treatment were randomly assigned to 12 h of EMDR (3×60 min planning/preparation followed by 6×90 min desensitisation/reprocessing) or 12 h (12×60 min) of stabilisation. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) were primary outcome measures.
  
  
  
  Intention-to-treat analyses found no differences in safety (one severe adverse event in the stabilisation condition only) or efficacy (effect sizes: CAPS -0.04 and HTQ 0.20) between the two conditions.
  
  
  
  Directly targeting traumatic memories through 12 h of EMDR in refugee patients needing specialised treatment is safe, but is only of limited efficacy.
authors.affiliation: F. Jackie June ter Heide, PhD, MPhil (Cantab), Trudy M. Mooren, PhD, Foundation Centrum '45 - partner in Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Oegstgeest and Diemen, The Netherlands; Rens van de Schoot, PhD, Department of Methods and Statistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands and Optentia Research Program, Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Ad de Jongh, PhD, Department of Behavioural Sciences, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Vrije University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and School of Health Sciences, Salford University, Manchester, UK; Rolf J. Kleber, PhD, Foundation Centrum '45 - partner in Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen and Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands j.ter.heide@centrum45.nl.
authors.forename: F Jackie June
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ter Heide
authors.affiliation: F. Jackie June ter Heide, PhD, MPhil (Cantab), Trudy M. Mooren, PhD, Foundation Centrum '45 - partner in Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Oegstgeest and Diemen, The Netherlands; Rens van de Schoot, PhD, Department of Methods and Statistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands and Optentia Research Program, Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Ad de Jongh, PhD, Department of Behavioural Sciences, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Vrije University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and School of Health Sciences, Salford University, Manchester, UK; Rolf J. Kleber, PhD, Foundation Centrum '45 - partner in Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen and Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Trudy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Mooren
authors.affiliation: F. Jackie June ter Heide, PhD, MPhil (Cantab), Trudy M. Mooren, PhD, Foundation Centrum '45 - partner in Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Oegstgeest and Diemen, The Netherlands; Rens van de Schoot, PhD, Department of Methods and Statistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands and Optentia Research Program, Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Ad de Jongh, PhD, Department of Behavioural Sciences, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Vrije University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and School of Health Sciences, Salford University, Manchester, UK; Rolf J. Kleber, PhD, Foundation Centrum '45 - partner in Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen and Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van de Schoot
authors.affiliation: F. Jackie June ter Heide, PhD, MPhil (Cantab), Trudy M. Mooren, PhD, Foundation Centrum '45 - partner in Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Oegstgeest and Diemen, The Netherlands; Rens van de Schoot, PhD, Department of Methods and Statistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands and Optentia Research Program, Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Ad de Jongh, PhD, Department of Behavioural Sciences, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Vrije University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and School of Health Sciences, Salford University, Manchester, UK; Rolf J. Kleber, PhD, Foundation Centrum '45 - partner in Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen and Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Jongh
authors.affiliation: F. Jackie June ter Heide, PhD, MPhil (Cantab), Trudy M. Mooren, PhD, Foundation Centrum '45 - partner in Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Oegstgeest and Diemen, The Netherlands; Rens van de Schoot, PhD, Department of Methods and Statistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands and Optentia Research Program, Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Ad de Jongh, PhD, Department of Behavioural Sciences, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Vrije University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and School of Health Sciences, Salford University, Manchester, UK; Rolf J. Kleber, PhD, Foundation Centrum '45 - partner in Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen and Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rolf J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kleber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057169:Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*