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EMDR in Adolescents With Bipolar Disorder and History of Trauma

EMDR Therapy in Relapse Prevention in Mood Episodes in Adolescents With Bipolar Disorder and History of Trauma: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03946787
Enrollment
82
Registered
2019-05-13
Start date
2019-02-05
Completion date
2020-01-31
Last updated
2019-05-13

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

Conditions

Bipolar Disorder

Brief summary

In this research, EMDR protocol model specific for bipolar patients with a history of trauma, developed by Benedikt Ahmann et al (2017), who applies EMDR in adults with Bipolar Disorder (BD) and history of trauma will be adapted for adolescents. This protocol consists of a detailed survey of traumatic events, intervention and processing of these events according to the standard protocol developed by Shapiro. The main hypothesis is that the use of EMDR in adolescents with BD and history of trauma, as a complement to the pharmacological treatment (Usual Treatment), would have beneficial effects in the course of the disease. Thus, the overall objective of this study is to examine whether EMDR therapy in adolescents with BD and history of traumatic events can reduce affective relapses within a 12-month period. In addition, improvement in biological markers related to BD is expected to be found when compared to the Usual Treatment. It is also expected that patients treated with EMDR will present a better neurocognitive functioning profile, assessed by means of a neuropsychological evaluation battery before and after the intervention, since recent studies show that the profile of humoral dysregulation, impulsiveness, difficulty in dealing with frustrations and social feedback in children and adolescents with BD is associated with poor cognitive control and executive function deficits.

Detailed description

This will be a randomized controlled trial. Participants will be assigned to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy or Treatment as Usual (TAU) through block randomization. This process will be done using the program available at www. randomization.com. In this study, EMDR Therapy will be applied in adolescents with BD and compared to the Usual Treatment. The neuropsychological profile of the patients will be evaluated before and after the interventions. In addition, the collection of the biological markers related to BD will be done by measuring the levels of salivary cortisol and serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Interleukin (IL) - 1β, IL - 2, IL - 4, IL - 6, IL - 10, Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha(TNF-α) in these patients, since a study proposing the use of serological biomarkers for BD diagnosis concluded that the use of a single biomarker would be of little use and a combination of several biomarkers would be necessary.

Interventions

The reprocessing and desensitization of each traumatic memory occurs in eight phases. In the first two phases, the therapist identifies targets and develops a treatment plan, enhances and develops personal resources, before working on traumatic memories. In stages 3 to 6, reprocessing and desensitization of memory is done. The patient focuses on the image of the event, negative beliefs and associated bodily sensations, while moving the eyes from side to side, following the therapist's fingers or other dual attention stimuli (eg, manual touch, auditory stimulation). Phases 7 and 8 are closing and reassessing, where the therapist determines if the memory has been processed properly.

OTHERTreatment as Usual

TAU will consist of the psychopharmacological approach appropriate to each patient according to the evaluation of a psychiatrist of childhood and adolescence's outpatient service.

Sponsors

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

1. Group A: Treatment as Usual (TAU); 2. Group B: TAU plus Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. age between 12 and 17 years and 11 months; 2. current clinical state of euthymia (patient stable or euthymic) after clinical evaluation, defined as the presence of clinical remission (CDRS ≤ 40, YMRS ≤ 12.5 and CGAS (Children's Global Assessment Scale) ≥ 51), being the presence of subsyndromic symptoms (YMRS\> 8 and \<14) admissible; 3. Presence of one or more distressing traumatic events, assessed by: 1. Trauma subscale of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire from the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Aged Children Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) , with frequency\> 1; 2. Holmes Rahes Stress Inventory for non-adults (H-RLSI) with frequency\> 1; 3. Children Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES)\> 0; 4. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ)\> 0; and 5. at least 5 points in the disturbance assessment by the Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUDS) scale.

Exclusion criteria

1. substance abuse / dependence within 3 months prior to participation; 2. neurological disease or history of brain trauma; 3. autism; 4. Intelligence Quotient \<70; 5. suicidal or homicidal ideation; 6. prior involvement in trauma-focused therapy; 7. psychotherapy during the study and months of follow-up, and; 8. a score greater than 25 on the Adolescent Dissociative Experience Scale, since the presence of massive dissociation requires different and more extensive treatment protocols.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Reduction in the number of manic switches.12 monthsTo verify if treatment with EMDR leads to a reduction in the number of manic episodes within a period of 12 months.This will be evaluated through the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).
Reduction in the number of depressive episodes12 monthsTo verify if treatment with EMDR leads to a reduction in the number of depressive episodes within a period of 12 months.This will be evaluated through the Children's Depression Rating Scale (CDRS).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in neurocognitive functioning through the DNE test.12 monthsTo verify if patients treated with EMDR will show an improvement in Reading Comprehension through the DNE (Discurso Narrativo Escrito or Written Narrative Speech) test.
Change in neurocognitive functioning through the NEUROPSILIN test.12 monthsCheck if patients treated with EMDR will show an improvement in Sentence Writing (syntax) through the Spontaneous Sentence Writing Subtest - NEUPSILIN (Instrumento de Avaliação Neuropsicológica Breve Infantil or Child Brief Neuropsychological Assessment Instrument).
Change in neurocognitive functioning through the evaluation of Comprehension of Written language.12 monthsTo verify if patients treated with EMDR will present an improvement in Comprehension of written language through the Subtest Comprehension Writing - NEUPSILIN.
Change in neurocognitive functioning through the evaluation of the Visuospatial Working Memory.12 monthsTo verify if patients treated with EMDR will show an improvement in the Visuospatial Working Memory through the Visuospatial Working Memory Subtest - NEUPSILIN-INF.
Change in neurocognitive functioning through the Go-no-Go Subtest.12 monthsTo verify if patients treated with EMDR will show an improvement in attention and inhibitory control through the Go-no-go Subtest - NEUPSILIN-INF.
Change in neurocognitive functioning through the Words Span in Sentences Subtest.12 monthsTo verify if patients treated with EMDR will present an improvement in verbal work memory through the Words Span in Sentences Subtest.
Change in neurocognitive functioning through the Five Digit Test.12 monthsTo verify if patients treated with EMDR will present an improvement in the automatic and controlled processes of attention, inhibitory control, impulsivity, self-monitoring, cognitive flexibility through the Five Digit Test.
Change in neurocognitive functioning through the Psychological Attention Battery.12 monthsTo verify if patients treated with EMDR will show an improvement in the attention alternated, concentrated, and divided through the Psychological Attention Battery.
Change in neurocognitive functioning through the Test of School Performance.12 monthsTo verify if patients treated with EMDR will present an improvement in the school performance in writing of words in reading, writing of isolated words and arithmetic through the Test of School Performance.
Change in biological markers measured by morning salivary cortisol levels in 6 months6 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of morning salivary cortisol levels.
Change in biological markers measured by morning salivary cortisol levels in 12 months12 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of morning salivary cortisol levels.
Change in biological markers measured by C-reactive protein levels in 6 months.6 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of C-reactive protein levels.
Change in biological markers measured by C-reactive protein levels in 12 months.12 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of C-reactive protein levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor levels in 6 months.6 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor levels in 12 months.12 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Interleukin-1 Beta levels in 6 months.6 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Interleukin-1 Beta levels.
Modification in neurocognitive functioning through the Hayling Test.12 monthsTo verify if patients treated with EMDR will show an improvement in the signs of inattention, impulsivity (inhibitory failure), processing speed, semantic memory, language and cognitive flexibility through the Hayling Test.
Change in biological markers measured by Interleukin-2 levels in 6 months.6 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Interleukin-2 levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Interleukin-2 levels in 12 months.12 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Interleukin-2 levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Interleukin-4 levels in 6 months.6 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Interleukin-4 levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Interleukin-4 levels in 12 months.12 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Interleukin-4 levels.
Improvement in biological markers measured by Interleukin-6 levels in 6 months.6 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Interleukin-6 levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Interleukin-6 levels in 12 months.12 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Interleukin-6 levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Interleukin-10 levels in 6 months.6 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Interleukin-10 levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Interleukin-10 levels in 12 months.12 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Interleukin-10 levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Interferon-gamma levels in 6 months.6 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Interferon-gamma levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Interferon-gamma levels in 12 months.12 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Interferon-gamma levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha levels in 6 months.6 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha levels.
Change in biological markers measured by Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha levels in 12 months.12 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha levels.
Modification in neurocognitive functioning through the WASI test.12 monthsTo verify if the patients treated with EMDR will present a better profile of neurocognitive functioning, evaluated by means of the Wechsler Abbreviated Intelligence Scale (WASI).
Modification in neurocognitive functioning through the MAC Battery.12 monthsTo verify if patients treated with EMDR will present an improvement in processing speed, access to semantic memory, and inhibitory control evaluated by means of the Verbal Fluency Tasks of the Montreal Communication Assessment Battery (MAC Battery).
Modification in neurocognitive functioning through the WISC-III test.12 monthsTo verify if the patients treated with EMDR will present a better profile of neurocognitive functioning, evaluated by means of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III) in adolescents aged up to 17 years.
Modification in neurocognitive functioning through the WAIS-III test.12 monthsTo verify if the patients treated with EMDR will present a better profile of neurocognitive functioning, evaluated by means of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults - Third Edition (WAIS-III) for adolescents over 17 years of age.
Change in biological markers measured by Interleukin-1 Beta levels in 12 months.12 monthsTo analyze the biological markers related to BD, through the measurement of Interleukin-1 Beta levels.
Change in neurocognitive functioning through the MAC Battery Test.12 monthsTo verify if patients treated with EMDR will present an improvement in short term memory, verbal work memory and inference processing through the Oral Narrative Discourse - MAC Battery test.

Countries

Brazil

Contacts

Primary ContactIves C Passos, PhD
ivescp1@gmail.com+555133598845
Backup ContactTatiana L Peruzzolo
tatiperuzzolo@gmail.com+555133598000

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026