Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in Alcohol Dependent Patients

NCT01828866 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IZ / NISPA / BSI / WM04
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 109
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

One interesting approach to the treatment of addiction is the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (Shapiro, 1989). Although research on the feasibility and efficacy of EMDR on addiction is limited and often lacks methodological rigor, the results are promising and suggest that further research on this subject is warranted. This proposal consists of two studies to test and determine the acceptability, feasibility and efficacy of EMDR as an intervention to reduce craving and alcohol use in alcohol dependent outpatients as well as to gain further understanding in underlying working mechanisms.

Conditions

Alcohol Dependence

Keywords

EMDR; Alcohol; Relapse; Craving

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Changes in number of heavy drinking days in the previous 30 days

  Changes in patient-reported number of heavy drinking days (defined as days on which 5 or more standard drinks of alcohol were consumed during the previous 30 days, as assessed with the alcohol TimeLine FollowBack (TLFB) method).

  Changes in baseline number of heavy drinking days in the previous 30 days, at post-intervention, and 1 and 6 month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (14)

• Time to first alcohol consumption

  Up to 6 months post-intervention

• Changes in number of total drinks consumed in the previous 30 days

  Changes in baseline number of total drinks consumed in the previous 30 days, at post-intervention, and 1 and 6 month follow-up

• Changes in average drinks per occasion in the previous 30 days

  Changes in baseline average drinks per occasion in the previous 30 days, at post-intervention, and 1 and 6 month follow-up

• Changes in severity of patient-reported problematic alcohol use

  Changes in baseline severity of patient-reported problematic alcohol use, at post-intervention, and 1 and 6 month follow-up

• Changes in biomarker levels

  Change from baseline assessment, at post-intervention, and follow-up after 1 and 6 months

Other Outcomes (7)

• History of drinking and other substance use

  Baseline

• Patient-reported motivation to stay abstinent

  Baseline

• Psychiatric comorbidity

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

Community Reinforcement Approach

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Treatment as usual, provided in out-patient setting

Behavioral: Community Reinforcement Approach

Community Reinforcement Approach + EMDR

EXPERIMENTAL

Treatment as usual + additional sessions of EMDR

Behavioral: EMDR; Behavioral: Community Reinforcement Approach

Interventions

EMDR BEHAVIORAL

EMDR is a protocolized, evidence-based treatment for PTSD. Here we use it to target addiction memory representations that elicit craving and may influence drinking behavior. The EMDR study protocol is based on the standard EMDR protocol and other EMDR approaches used in addiction.

Also known as: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Community Reinforcement Approach + EMDR

Community Reinforcement Approach BEHAVIORAL

CRA is based on behavioural therapy principles: 1. Functional analysis 2. Communication skills 3. Problem-solving skills 4. Sobriety sampling 5. Social networking 6. Refusal of substances 7. Reinforcing activities 8. Relapse management 9. Medication monitoring

Also known as: CRA

Community Reinforcement Approach; Community Reinforcement Approach + EMDR

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• A primary diagnosis of alcohol dependence or abuse (meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV-TR criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 2000);
• Age of at least 18 years or older;
• Can speak and read Dutch language;
• Consent (written) to postponed information given.

You may not qualify if:

• Meeting the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) criteria for current post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);
• Severe, current (since the start of regular treatment) psychiatric symptoms (especially manic, psychotic, suicidal and aggressive symptoms) that may endanger participants or others and jeopardize study adherence.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• IrisZorg: lead
• Fonds Psychische Gezondheid: collaborator
• Dutch EMDR Association: collaborator
• EMDR Research Foundation: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

IrisZorg

Arnhem, Gelderland, 6800 AJ, Netherlands

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Markus W, de Weert-van Oene GH, Becker ES, DeJong CA. A multi-site randomized study to compare the effects of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) added to TAU versus TAU to reduce craving and drinking behavior in alcohol dependent outpatients: study protocol. BMC Psychiatry. 2015 Mar 18;15:51. doi: 10.1186/s12888-015-0431-z.

  PMID: 25884223 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alcoholism; Recurrence

Interventions

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Alcohol-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Desensitization, Psychologic; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Wiebren Markus, MSc

  IrisZorg, NISPA, BSI (Radboud University)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: MSc

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 2, 2013
• First Posted: April 11, 2013
• Study Start: September 1, 2013
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2016
• Study Completion: August 1, 2016
• Last Updated: September 15, 2016

Record last verified: 2016-09

Locations

NL (1)