title: Treating Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Relaxation Therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating autoimmune disease that imposes a significant emotional burden with heavy psychosocial consequences. Several studies have investigated the association between MS and mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, and recently researchers have focused also on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is the first study that investigates the usefulness of proposing a treatment for PTSD to patients with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial with patients with MS diagnosed with PTSD comparing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR; n = 20) and Relaxation Therapy (RT; n = 22). The primary outcome measure was the proportion of participants that no longer meet PTSD diagnosis as measured with Clinician Administered PTSD Scale 6-months after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of patients were able to overcome their PTSD diagnosis after only 10 therapy sessions. EMDR treatment appears to be more effective than RT in reducing the proportion of patients with MS suffering from PTSD. Both treatments are effective in reducing PTSD severity, anxiety and depression symptoms, and to improve Quality of Life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although our results can only be considered preliminary, this study suggests that it is essential that PTSD symptoms are detected and that brief and cost-effective interventions to reduce PTSD and associated psychological symptoms are offered to patients, in order to help them to reduce the psychological burden associated with their neurological condition.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01743664, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01743664.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology and Psychosomatics Service, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, University of TurinOrbassano, Italy; Clinical and Biological Sciences Department, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, University of TurinOrbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carletto
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology and Psychosomatics Service, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, University of TurinOrbassano, Italy; Neurologia 2 - Centro di Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Luigi GonzagaOrbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology and Psychosomatics Service, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, University of Turin Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertino
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Biological Sciences Department, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, University of Turin Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.affiliation: eCampus UniversityNovedrate (CO,) Italy; Department of Mental Health, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Torino 3Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavallo
authors.affiliation: Facharzt für Psychosomatische und Innere Medizin, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Institut Deutschland Bergisch Gladbach, Germany.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Turin Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zennaro
authors.affiliation: Neurologia 2 - Centro di Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Luigi Gonzaga Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malucchi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology and Psychosomatics Service, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, University of TurinOrbassano, Italy; Clinical and Biological Sciences Department, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, University of TurinOrbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ostacoli
keywords: EMDR; PTSD; multiple sclerosis; relaxation therapy; stress