Abstract

Background: Three in every 10 children and adolescents admitted to a hospital or undergoing medical treatment develop subthreshold symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When untreated, subthreshold PTSD can have a serious impact on psychosocial functioning, quality of life and long-term psychopathology. However, research investigating subthreshold PTSD and its treatment following paediatric medical interventions and/or hospitalization is scarce. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a fast and non-invasive psychosocial treatment for posttraumatic stress complaints. However, the effectiveness of EMDR in paediatric patients with subthreshold PTSD has not previously been systematically investigated.

Objective: Describing the design of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) set up to evaluate the effectiveness of EMDR in children with subthreshold PTSD after hospitalization.

Method: Children aged 4–15 years who have undergone a one-time (trauma type I) or repeated (trauma type II) hospitalization up to five years ago will be included. Participating children will be first screened with a standardized questionnaire for PTSD-symptoms. Subsequently, children with subthreshold PTSD will be randomly assigned to (1) approximately six sessions of standardized EMDR or (2) care as usual (CAU). Children with full diagnostic PTSD do not participate in the RCT, but are referred for direct treatment. Follow-up measurements will take place after eight weeks and eight months.

Discussion: Considering the scarce evidence for the effectiveness of EMDR in children with medically related trauma, clinicans, researchers and children treated in hospitals can benefit from this study. Potential strengths and limitations of this study are discussed.

Trial Registration: Netherlands Trial Register NTR5801

Details

Title
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in children and adolescents with subthreshold PTSD after medically related trauma: design of a randomized controlled trial
Author
Meentken, Maya G 1 ; van Beynum, Ingrid M 2 ; Aendekerk, Elisabeth W C 1 ; Legerstee, Jeroen S 1 ; Hanan El Marroun 1 ; van der Ende, Jan 1 ; Lindauer, Ramón J L 3 ; Hillegers, Manon H J 1 ; Moll, Henriette A 4 ; Helbing, Wim A 5 ; Elisabeth M W J Utens 6 

 Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC – Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 
 Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Erasmus MC – Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 
 Academic Center for Child Psychiatry the Bascule, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
 Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC – Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 
 Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Erasmus MC – Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, division of Cardiology, Radboud umc – Amalia Children’s Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands 
 Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC – Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Academic Center for Child Psychiatry the Bascule, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
Publication year
2018
Publication date
2018
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Ltd.
e-ISSN
20008066
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2761423217
Copyright
© 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons  Attribution – Non-Commercial License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.