Chronic Pruritus
Conditions
Keywords
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Brief summary
Pruritus is a common symptom of numerous dermatological and non-dermatological conditions. Current treatments for chronic pruritus (CP) are often not fully effective and may have burdensome side effects. Recently, the trauma exposure technique Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) that is recommended as first line treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder has been reported to be also effective in the treatment of CP in anecdotal clinical case observations. However, to the best of the investigator's knowledge, the efficacy of EMDR in CP has not yet been systematically explored. This study aims at addressing this unmet need in a prospective pilot study comparing EMDR versus treatment as usual (TAU).
Interventions
EMDR is a psychotherapeutic approach originally designed for individuals suffering from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It facilitates the processing of memories through a structured eight-phase treatment, involving the patient's focused attention on traumatic images, thoughts, and sensations while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, typically through guided eye movements. This process aims to reduce the emotional distress associated with aversive memories, promoting adaptive coping mechanisms and psychological healing. Recently, the indications for the method have been extended so that EMDR is also used for chronic pain and depressive disorders.
Sponsors
University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
non-randomized, open-label two-arm pre-post design feasibility-study
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Provided written informed consent * Age 18 to 75 years * Skindex-29 (questionnaire) symptoms subscale ≥42 * Confirmed diagnosis CP * Itch intensity of min. ≥ 4 on the 0-10 numerical rating scale within the last 7 days * Stable course of treatment in the two weeks prior to the study
Exclusion criteria
* Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, severe psychiatric disorders such as delusional disorder, suicidality or dementia. * Patients on phototherapy * Acute attacks of an autoimmune disease such as Crohn's disease * Serious cardiac disease
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Adherence (%) | up to 8 month | Adherence/ receipt of intervention and retention will be assessed by tracking % of sessions completed, number of dropouts and number of patients completing final assessment. |
Countries
Switzerland
Contacts
Primary ContactChrysovalandis Schwale, Dr.
Backup ContactRainer Schaefert, Prof.
Outcome results
None listed