Comparing EMDR with CBT for the treatment of anorexia nervosa

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) versus Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: a randomized clinical trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN16211499

Enrollment

Registered

2019-10-22

Start date

2018-03-14

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-02-24

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

Conditions

Anorexia nervosa Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Interventions

Participants will receive 16 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) sessions with a licensed psychotherapist in a block-randomized order. First foll

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

Female

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Females aged 15-25 years 2. Newly diagnosed with anorexia nervosa using DSM-V criteria

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Inability to speak or read Italian language 2. Any general medical condition interfering with eating habits, including metabolic disorders 3. Perinatal trauma or severe neurological disorder 4. Any severe psychiatric comorbidity (excluding personality disorders) 5. Psychotherapy of any kind in the previous year 6. EMDR or CBT psychotherapy in the medical history

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Eating disorder severity measured using the global score of the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) questionnaire from T0 (baseline) to T1 (after 16 therapy sessions)	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Eating Disorder Severity measured using the global score of the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) questionnaire from T1 (after 16 therapy sessions) to T2 (6 months after the last session) 2. Emotional regulation ability assessed using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) at baseline, T1 and T2 3. Psychosocial impairment severity assessed using the Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA) questionnaire at baseline, T1 and T2 4. Attitudes towards the body assessed using the Body Attitudes Test (BAT) at baseline, T1 and T2 5. Dissociative symptoms assessed using the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) at baseline, T1 and T2 6. Attachment assessed using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) at baseline, T1 and T2 7. Body mass index (BMI) assessed by measuring weight and height at baseline, T1 and T2 8. Brain activity measured using high-density electroencephalography (EEG) using 64 scalp electrodes during the AAI at baseline and T1	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Eating Disorder Severity measured using the global score of the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) questionnaire from T1 (after 16 therapy sessions) to T2 (6 months after the last session) 2. Emotional regulation ability assessed using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) at baseline, T1 and T2 3. Psychosocial impairment severity assessed using the Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA) questionnaire at baseline, T1 and T2 4. Attitudes towards the body assessed using the Body Attitudes Test (BAT) at baseline, T1 and T2 5. Dissociative symptoms assessed using the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) at baseline, T1 and T2 6. Attachment assessed using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) at baseline, T1 and T2 7. Body mass index (BMI) assessed by measuring weight and height at baseline, T1 and T2 8. Brain activity measured using high-density electroencephalography (EEG) using 64 scalp electrodes during the AAI at baseline and T1

—

Countries

Italy

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026