Psychological and immunological benefits of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in Hashimoto thyroiditis: Preliminary findings from a randomized controlled trial
Description
Objective
This study examined the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in improving psychological functioning and modulating immune markers in adults with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), a chronic autoimmune disorder increasingly linked to early trauma.
Method
In a randomized controlled trial, 91 adults with HT were assigned to EMDR plus treatment-as-usual (TAU), placebo plus TAU, or TAU alone. The EMDR protocol focused on processing ten distressing memories predating illness onset. Outcomes included anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) levels, and measures of depression, anxiety, stress, dissociation, alexithymia, trait anger, emotion regulation, and quality of life, assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up.
Results
EMDR led to significant improvements in dissociation, alexithymia, depression, anxiety, stress, trait anger, and emotion regulation, along with enhanced quality of life. These effects were maintained at follow-up and generally exceeded those of placebo or TAU. A significant reduction in anti-TPO levels was also observed in the EMDR group, although between-group effects at follow-up did not remain significant after correction for multiple comparisons. No significant differences were found in anti-TG levels.
Conclusion
MDR may offer a clinically relevant adjunctive intervention for individuals with HT, reducing psychological distress and potentially influencing immune activity. Findings on immunomodulation are preliminary and warrant further investigation in larger trials.
This study examined the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in improving psychological functioning and modulating immune markers in adults with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), a chronic autoimmune disorder increasingly linked to early trauma.
Method
In a randomized controlled trial, 91 adults with HT were assigned to EMDR plus treatment-as-usual (TAU), placebo plus TAU, or TAU alone. The EMDR protocol focused on processing ten distressing memories predating illness onset. Outcomes included anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) levels, and measures of depression, anxiety, stress, dissociation, alexithymia, trait anger, emotion regulation, and quality of life, assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up.
Results
EMDR led to significant improvements in dissociation, alexithymia, depression, anxiety, stress, trait anger, and emotion regulation, along with enhanced quality of life. These effects were maintained at follow-up and generally exceeded those of placebo or TAU. A significant reduction in anti-TPO levels was also observed in the EMDR group, although between-group effects at follow-up did not remain significant after correction for multiple comparisons. No significant differences were found in anti-TG levels.
Conclusion
MDR may offer a clinically relevant adjunctive intervention for individuals with HT, reducing psychological distress and potentially influencing immune activity. Findings on immunomodulation are preliminary and warrant further investigation in larger trials.
Format
Journal
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Macarenco, M.-M., Opariuc-Dan, C., Georgescu, T., & Căciuloiu, L. (2025). Psychological and immunological benefits of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in Hashimoto thyroiditis: Preliminary findings from a randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 157, 107695. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107695
Collection
Citation
“Psychological and immunological benefits of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in Hashimoto thyroiditis: Preliminary findings from a randomized controlled trial,” Francine Shapiro Legacy Library, accessed January 12, 2026, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/30190.