A first exploration: Can eye movement desensitization and reprocessing improve cognition in older adults with posttraumatic stress disorder?
Description
Objectives
In older adults, PTSD is associated with decreased verbal learning and executive dysfunction. Therefore, feasibility of EMDR-treatment to improve cognitive performance in older adults with PTSD was examined. Additionally, we investigated pre-treatment correlation with often co-occurring risk factors for cognitive decline (sleep problems, depressive disorder, physical inactivity, childhood traumatic events).
Design
Multicenter design with pre-post measurements. Setting Psychiatric Dutch hospitals Mondriaan Mental Health Center and Altrecht.
Participants
22 treatment-seeking PTSD-outpatients (60-84 years). Intervention Weekly one-hour EMDR session during 3, 6, or 9 months. Measurements PTSD was assessed with Clinician-Administered PTSD-scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). Verbal learning memory was measured with Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), interference with Stroop Colour-Word Test (SCWT) and working memory with Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Digit Span (WAIS-IV-DS).
Results
A Linear mixed-model showed significant improvement on RAVLT immediate-recall (F (1, 21) = 15.928, P = .001, 95% CI -6.98-2.20), delayed-recall (F (1, 21) = 7.095, P = .015, 95% CI -2.43-.30), recognition (F (21) = 8.885, P = .007, 95% CI -1.70– -.30), and SCWT (F (1,21) = 5.504, P = .029, 95% CI 4.38-72.78) but not on WAIS-IV-DS (F (20) = -1.237, P = .230, 95% CI -3.07-.78). There was no significant influence of therapy duration and CAPS-5 pre-treatment scores. There were small-medium nonsignificant correlations between CAPS-5 and cognitive performance pre-post differences, and between most cognitive measures and sleep problems, depressive disorder, and physical inactivity.
Conclusions
Cognitive functioning on memory and attention possible increased in older adults with PTSD after EMDR treatment. Further research is needed with a larger sample and a control condition to corroborate these findings and to identify the possible mediating role of modifiable risk factors.
In older adults, PTSD is associated with decreased verbal learning and executive dysfunction. Therefore, feasibility of EMDR-treatment to improve cognitive performance in older adults with PTSD was examined. Additionally, we investigated pre-treatment correlation with often co-occurring risk factors for cognitive decline (sleep problems, depressive disorder, physical inactivity, childhood traumatic events).
Design
Multicenter design with pre-post measurements. Setting Psychiatric Dutch hospitals Mondriaan Mental Health Center and Altrecht.
Participants
22 treatment-seeking PTSD-outpatients (60-84 years). Intervention Weekly one-hour EMDR session during 3, 6, or 9 months. Measurements PTSD was assessed with Clinician-Administered PTSD-scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). Verbal learning memory was measured with Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), interference with Stroop Colour-Word Test (SCWT) and working memory with Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Digit Span (WAIS-IV-DS).
Results
A Linear mixed-model showed significant improvement on RAVLT immediate-recall (F (1, 21) = 15.928, P = .001, 95% CI -6.98-2.20), delayed-recall (F (1, 21) = 7.095, P = .015, 95% CI -2.43-.30), recognition (F (21) = 8.885, P = .007, 95% CI -1.70– -.30), and SCWT (F (1,21) = 5.504, P = .029, 95% CI 4.38-72.78) but not on WAIS-IV-DS (F (20) = -1.237, P = .230, 95% CI -3.07-.78). There was no significant influence of therapy duration and CAPS-5 pre-treatment scores. There were small-medium nonsignificant correlations between CAPS-5 and cognitive performance pre-post differences, and between most cognitive measures and sleep problems, depressive disorder, and physical inactivity.
Conclusions
Cognitive functioning on memory and attention possible increased in older adults with PTSD after EMDR treatment. Further research is needed with a larger sample and a control condition to corroborate these findings and to identify the possible mediating role of modifiable risk factors.
Format
Journal
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Gielkens, E. M. J., Rossi, G., van Alphen, S. P. J., & Sobczak, S. A. (2023, October). First exploration: Can eye movement desensitization and reprocessing improve cognition in older adults with posttraumatic stress disorder? Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 0(0). doi:10.1177/08919887231207639
Citation
“A first exploration: Can eye movement desensitization and reprocessing improve cognition in older adults with posttraumatic stress disorder?,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed April 28, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/28486.