Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention for the prevention of post- traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss

Background: 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...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sureda Caldentey, Bàrbara, García-Gibert, Cristina, Martinez, Amparo, Giménez Peñalba, Yolanda|||0009-0009-7640-4021, Segú, Xavier|||0000-0003-4376-9680, Mallorquí, Aida|||0000-0003-4038-3045, Gelabert, Estel|||0000-0001-5897-1932, Roca Lecumberri, Alba|||0000-0002-9235-0723, Torres, Anna|||0000-0001-5178-1917
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:315763
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/315763
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1593306
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:EMDR recent traumatic episode protocol
Perinatal grief
Perinatal loss
Post-traumatic symptoms
PTSD
Stillbirth
Descripción
Sumario:Background: 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. Materials and methods: 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. Results: 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). Conclusions: 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.