EMDR for Suicidal Thoughts

No longer recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Lisa M Burback, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alberta

Must not be taking: Benzodiazepines, Cannabis, Illicit substances

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Severe dissociative symptoms, Psychotic, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 13

Duration: 6 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the safety and effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts. EMDR aims to reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories, which can relate to suicidal ideation. Participants will either receive EMDR therapy sessions remotely or continue with their usual mental health care. The trial seeks adults who have experienced suicidal thoughts in the past week and can commit to attending virtual sessions. Participants must have access to a computer and a private space for therapy. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to valuable research that could enhance mental health treatments for others.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial does not specify that you need to stop taking your current medications, but you must refrain from using benzodiazepines, cannabis, or illicit substances 24 hours before and after EMDR sessions.

What prior data suggests that EMDR is safe for treating suicidal thoughts?

Research has shown that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is generally safe for people with suicidal thoughts. One study demonstrated that EMDR reduced the intensity of these feelings, suggesting it can serve as an effective alternative treatment. Another study found that EMDR might decrease suicidal thoughts in individuals with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Importantly, EMDR has been used successfully in various settings, with patients showing improvements in reducing suicidal thoughts over time. Reports from these studies have not identified any major safety issues, making EMDR a well-tolerated option for many. While more research can enhance understanding, current evidence suggests EMDR is a safe choice for those dealing with suicidal thoughts. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for suicidal thoughts because it offers a unique approach compared to traditional treatments, like medication and talk therapy. Unlike these standard options, EMDR specifically targets distressing memories and negative thoughts associated with trauma by using guided eye movements to help reprocess these experiences. This method can be delivered virtually, making it accessible to more people who need help, and it has shown promise in helping patients feel better faster. By providing a new way to address underlying trauma, EMDR could offer hope for those struggling with suicidal thoughts in a way other treatments might not.

What evidence suggests that EMDR might be an effective treatment for suicidal thoughts?

This trial will compare Virtual EMDR with treatment as usual for reducing suicidal thoughts. Research has shown that EMDR can help reduce suicidal thoughts. In one study, people with major depression experienced fewer severe suicidal thoughts after EMDR treatment. Other research supports that EMDR can also help with PTSD and depression by reducing distressing emotions related to trauma. Specifically, one trial found that suicide-related thoughts decreased after intensive EMDR sessions. Overall, several studies have found EMDR effective in reducing suicidal thoughts and improving mental health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Lisa M Burback, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Alberta

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Adults aged 18-65 with recent suicidal thoughts can join this trial if they have a primary care provider, can consent to treatment, and commit to twice-weekly sessions for 12 total. They need their own computer with camera/mic and a private space. They must avoid certain drugs before/after sessions.

Inclusion Criteria

You agree to not use benzodiazepines, cannabis, or illegal drugs 24 hours before or after EMDR sessions.

I am between 18 and 65 years old and have had thoughts of suicide in the past week.

and wear a gown Participants must be willing to wear a gown and adhere to the study safety precautions.

Exclusion Criteria

I experience severe dissociation, psychosis, or manic symptoms.

I have experienced severe symptoms like hearing voices, memory loss, or feeling detached from my emotions.

I am planning to have or currently undergoing ECT or trauma-focused therapy.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Preparation

Participants receive 1 to 3 preparation sessions including psychoeducation and preparation exercises before EMDR

1-2 weeks

1-3 visits (virtual)

Treatment

Participants receive up to 12 EMDR sessions focusing on experiences, urges, or negative thoughts associated with suicidal thoughts

6 weeks

12 visits (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, including assessments of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation

4 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• EMDR

Trial Overview The trial is testing virtual EMDR therapy's safety and effectiveness against usual care in reducing suicidal ideation. Participants are randomly assigned to either receive EMDR plus usual care or just the usual care, comparing mental health outcomes pre- and post-treatment.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Virtual EMDR Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Patients will receive 1 to 3 preparation sessions (which will include psychoeducation and preparation exercises before EMDR), followed by up to 12 EMDR sessions, delivered over encrypted Zoom videoconferencing. EMDR is an evidence based trauma therapy. These EMDR sessions will focus on the experiences, urges or negative thoughts associated with their suicidal thoughts. The sessions will be 90 minutes in length and occur twice per week. This group will also have access to usual psychiatric care, which usually includes a family doctor or psychiatrist, mental health therapist and having access to Edmonton's community mental health programs.

Group II: Treatment as usual Active Control 1 Intervention

This group will also have access to usual care, which usually includes a family doctor or psychiatrist, mental health therapist and having access to Edmonton's community mental health programs.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alberta

Lead Sponsor

Trials

957

Recruited

437,000+

Alberta Health services

Collaborator

Trials

168

Recruited

658,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a rapid and effective treatment for severe depression, capable of quickly reducing or eliminating suicidal thoughts and behaviors, as demonstrated in a case study of an 88-year-old man who showed significant improvement after just one session.

The patient remained free of suicidal ideation for 5 months following the treatment, highlighting the potential long-term benefits of ECT even with a minimal number of sessions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resolution of severe suicidality with a single electroconvulsive therapy. Kobeissi, J., Aloysi, A., Tobias, K., et al.[2011]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6717728/

The Effect of Eye Movement Desensitization and ... The results of this clinical trial showed that EMDR can reduce the severity of suicidal thoughts in patients with major depressive disorder and ...

2. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1361086/full

Randomized controlled trial investigating web-based, ... Promising preliminary evidence suggests that EMDR may reduce suicidal ideation (SI) when used to treat Major Depressive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8603176/

Web-Based Eye Movement Desensitization and ... Most recently, Fereidouni reported a reduction in the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS) scores in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) using intensive EMDR ...

4. spj.science.org spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/jemdr.0008

How to Apply Eye Movement Desensitization and ... The first randomized controlled trial demonstrating the effectiveness of EMDR in reducing suicidal thoughts was conducted by Fereidouni et al. [38]. In this ...

5. bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-019-2426-7

Using EMDR therapy with patients in an acute mental health ... Patients made significant improvements across all the psychometrics, including a reduction in suicidal ideation. The majority needed less than ...