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EMDR for Suicidal Thoughts

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Lisa M Burback, MD

Research Sponsored by University of Alberta

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Adults aged 18 to 65 with suicidal ideation in the last week

adults (ages 18 to 65) with suicidal ideation in the last week.

Must not have

DES score above 34 or severe dissociative symptoms, psychotic symptoms or manic symptoms

History of severe dissociative symptoms in keeping with a separate dissociative disorder, such as hearing internal voices, amnestic episodes, or dissociative fugue states, passivity experiences or first rank symptoms under stress, or the subjective experience of having alter personality self-states, severe isolation of affect, with inability to feel body sensations or tune into emotions

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up comparing one year before to one year after study enrolment.

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial tests the safety and effectiveness of online EMDR therapy for adults with suicidal thoughts. EMDR helps reduce the emotional pain of traumatic memories using specific eye movements. The study compares this therapy with regular psychiatric care to see if it reduces anxiety, depression, and suicidal thinking. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychological treatment developed to reduce distressing thoughts and feelings, initially used for trauma but also effective for addictions, phobias, and pain.

Who is the study for?

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.

What is being tested?

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.

What are the potential side effects?

Potential side effects of EMDR may include temporary increases in distress, vivid dreams, light-headedness during sessions, emergence of new traumatic memories, or changes in emotions.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

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

Select...

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

Select...

I have a computer with a camera and microphone for therapy sessions.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

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I experience severe dissociation, psychosis, or manic symptoms.

Select...

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

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ comparing one year before to one year after study enrolment.

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~comparing one year before to one year after study enrolment.

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and comparing one year before to one year after study enrolment. for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Beck Scale for Suicide ideation (BSS)

Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) Recent (self report of past 1 week)

Secondary study objectives

ACES Questionnaire (ACES)

BDI II (Beck Depression Inventory II)

DERS (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale)

+5 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Virtual EMDRExperimental Treatment2 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 usualActive Control1 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.

Treatment

First Studied

Drug Approval Stage

How many patients have taken this drug

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

2010

N/A

~300

0 / 5Eligibility criteria met