The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)-therapy on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and quality of life in patients with cancer
Description
Background
Some patients with cancer have experienced the diagnosis or treatment as so stressful and traumatic, that it leads to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)1. The aim of our case series study was to assess the feasibility and replicate the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)-therapy with respect to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with cancer in a clinical hospital setting.
Methods
Included were 23 adult patients with cancer-related PTSD symptoms, from one general and one academic hospital in the Netherlands. Patients referred by their oncologist were sampled consecutively, and received a maximum of six 90-min EMDR sessions2. Standardized and validated self-report measures were used to assess PTSD symptoms (PCL-5) and HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L), pre-treatment (T0), post-treatment (T1), and at 3 months follow-up (T2). Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) gains were estimated using
Results
Median treatment duration was 2 sessions (range 1–5). Friedman's ANOVA showed that the patients' PTSD symptoms decreased from pre- to post-treatment (T = 1.295, p < 0.001, r = 0.666), which remained at follow-up (T = 1.364, p < 0.001, r = 0.641). The significantly improved HRQoL post-treatment compared to pre-treatment (T = −0.818, p = 0.020, r = − 0.122) did not remain at follow-up. The QALYs gained were 0.13 over one year. The treatment costs were estimated to be €760, leading to an
Discussion
Our study brought novelty in EMDR-research in the field of oncology by providing preliminary estimates of QALY gains and costs per QALY. We observed a positive trend in QALY gains accompanied by low costs associated with EMDR-therapy. Another interesting finding was that nine patients were treated with the flashforward procedure, an application of EMDR-therapy designed to address patients' fears related to a potential future catastrophe. This technique appears highly applicable within the field
Conclusion
Our study provides a positive estimation of the feasibility and (cost-)effectiveness of EMDR in treating PTSD symptoms in patients with cancer. Given the uncontrolled study design, randomized studies comparing EMDR-therapy to other trauma-therapies are needed to further position EMDR-therapy in this patient population.
Some patients with cancer have experienced the diagnosis or treatment as so stressful and traumatic, that it leads to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)1. The aim of our case series study was to assess the feasibility and replicate the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)-therapy with respect to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with cancer in a clinical hospital setting.
Methods
Included were 23 adult patients with cancer-related PTSD symptoms, from one general and one academic hospital in the Netherlands. Patients referred by their oncologist were sampled consecutively, and received a maximum of six 90-min EMDR sessions2. Standardized and validated self-report measures were used to assess PTSD symptoms (PCL-5) and HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L), pre-treatment (T0), post-treatment (T1), and at 3 months follow-up (T2). Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) gains were estimated using
Results
Median treatment duration was 2 sessions (range 1–5). Friedman's ANOVA showed that the patients' PTSD symptoms decreased from pre- to post-treatment (T = 1.295, p < 0.001, r = 0.666), which remained at follow-up (T = 1.364, p < 0.001, r = 0.641). The significantly improved HRQoL post-treatment compared to pre-treatment (T = −0.818, p = 0.020, r = − 0.122) did not remain at follow-up. The QALYs gained were 0.13 over one year. The treatment costs were estimated to be €760, leading to an
Discussion
Our study brought novelty in EMDR-research in the field of oncology by providing preliminary estimates of QALY gains and costs per QALY. We observed a positive trend in QALY gains accompanied by low costs associated with EMDR-therapy. Another interesting finding was that nine patients were treated with the flashforward procedure, an application of EMDR-therapy designed to address patients' fears related to a potential future catastrophe. This technique appears highly applicable within the field
Conclusion
Our study provides a positive estimation of the feasibility and (cost-)effectiveness of EMDR in treating PTSD symptoms in patients with cancer. Given the uncontrolled study design, randomized studies comparing EMDR-therapy to other trauma-therapies are needed to further position EMDR-therapy in this patient population.
Format
Journal
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Kranenburg, L., Driessen, H., van der Rijt, C., Elfrink, E., Blokhuis, M., & Busschbach, J. (2024). The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)-therapy on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and quality of life in patients with cancer. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 181, 111744. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2024.111744
Collection
Citation
“The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)-therapy on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and quality of life in patients with cancer,” Francine Shapiro Legacy Library, accessed July 13, 2025, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/29218.