Feasibility & Efficacy of EMDR Group intervention post-sexual assault
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility Study on the Efficacy of an enhanced-Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Group intervention post-sexual assault: a randomized controlled trial (RCT)
IRAS ID
324818
Contact name
Raquel Correia
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
It is well-established that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) post-sexual assault is common. Whilst the effectiveness of individual EMDR treatments for PTSD has been established, early EMDR group interventions for sexual assault-related PTSD is in its infancy. This proposal describes a two-arm, parallel groups, single-blind, feasibility RCT comparing an enhanced-EMDR (EE) group with a Waitlist List (WL) comparator. Forty women whose primary problem is presence of PTSD within 12 weeks post-assault will be recruited from a Sexual Assault Referral Centre. The enhanced element of the intervention arm comprises one individual appointment pre-EMDR group attendance for resource installation. Data will be collected at baseline, post the one-off psychoeducational workshop, 4-weeks post-randomisation, and the intervention arm only will complete a further follow-up at 27 weeks post-randomisation. The primary study outcomes are data on feasibility and acceptability. The primary clinical outcome is PTSD diagnosis 4-weeks post-randomisation. Secondary clinical outcomes include measures of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and shame. Preliminary estimates of the effect of the EE on PTSD diagnosis, PTSD symptoms, anxiety and shame relative to WL will be described. Focus group discussions with EE participants will evaluate acceptability. These data will add to the existing literature and support the development of a fully powered RCT to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention in resource and time-limited services.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/1004
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion