Metabolism and brain circuitry dynamics during trauma exposure therapy with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) versus ego state therapy (EST) in patients with major depressive disorder and traumatic/violence experiences

Metabolism and brain circuitry dynamics during trauma exposure therapy with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) versus ego state therapy (EST) in patients with major depressive disorder and traumatic/violence experiences - EMDR-EST_engl.

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00032102

Enrollment

Registered

2023-06-22

Start date

2024-01-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-03-02

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

F33

Interventions

Group 1: Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), 14 therapy hours during 12 weeks Group 2: Ego-State Therapie (EST), 14 therapy hours during 12 weeks

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 75 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: -Diagnosis of major depressive disorder (based on DSM-V criteria) -Additionally post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD and/or childhood adversity as comorbidity or precedent factor -Written consent after comprehensive study information

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: -Current substance abuse disorder, schizophrenic disorder, or psychotic depression -Actual suicidality (scores of 4 or 5 in C-SSRS scale) -Cardial instability -Contraindications to MRI, e.g., cardiac pacemaker or ferromagnetic implants -Contraindications to EMDR or EST therapy, such as lack of stability and real world conflicts in the present -Individuals who have started psychotherapy in the last three months -Pregnancy and nursing period

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
clinical symptoms of depression measured by MADRS and BDI-II, baseline versus follow-up after 6, 12 and 14 therapy hours	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
-agression (BPAQ, OAS-M, STAXI, LHAS), baseline versus follow-up after 6, 12 and 14 therapy hours -emotion regulation (SRQ, CERQ), baseline versus follow-up after 6, 12 and 14 therapy hours -trauma (CAPS-5) -dysregulation within and between neuronal networks (affective network, salience network, cognitive control network, attention networks) and overexpression of VOCs (e.g. TMA, aceton, butyric acid lactate and others related to energy metabolism, short chain fatty acids, tryptophan metabolism), baseline versus follow-up 14 therapy hours	—

Measure

Time frame

-agression (BPAQ, OAS-M, STAXI, LHAS), baseline versus follow-up after 6, 12 and 14 therapy hours -emotion regulation (SRQ, CERQ), baseline versus follow-up after 6, 12 and 14 therapy hours -trauma (CAPS-5) -dysregulation within and between neuronal networks (affective network, salience network, cognitive control network, attention networks) and overexpression of VOCs (e.g. TMA, aceton, butyric acid lactate and others related to energy metabolism, short chain fatty acids, tryptophan metabolism), baseline versus follow-up 14 therapy hours

—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactThomas Frodl

Universitätsklinikum Aachen, RWTH Universität Aachen

tfrodl@ukaachen.de+49-2418089632

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 14, 2026