The EMDR Recent Birth Trauma Protocol: a pilot randomised clinical trial after traumatic childbirth

Abstract

<b>Objective:</b> This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of brief EMDR intervention as compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU) in women with post-partum PTSD symptoms.<b>Design:</b> A pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted to evaluate possible differences between one EMDR session (<i>n</i> = 19) and one TAU session (<i>n</i> = 18) delivered in a maternity ward in the aftermath of childbirth.<b>Main Outcome Measures:</b> The primary outcome measure was the rate of remission of post-partum post-traumatic stress symptoms (i.e. IES-R score <23) in both groups at 6-weeks (T1) and 12-weeks' post-partum (T2). Secondary outcome measures were mother-to-infant bonding, post-partum depressive symptoms, the presence of flashbacks and level of distress.<b>Results:</b> Most of the women improved their post-partum post-traumatic stress symptoms after only one treatment session. EMDR resulted more effective than TAU in reducing the proportion of women with post-partum post-traumatic stress symptoms at 6-weeks' post-partum (78.9% EMDR vs. 39.9% TAU; <i>p</i> = .020). Moreover, women treated with EMDR experienced less flashbacks and distress as compared to TAU. No significant difference was found between treatments on mother-to-infant bonding and post-partum depressive symptoms.<b>Conclusions:</b> These findings, although preliminary, suggest that a brief EMDR intervention could be a viable and promising tool in the early treatment of post-traumatic stress related to traumatic childbirth.