EMDR Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Heart Attack or Cardiac Event in Adults Aged 18 to 70

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing EMDR therapy for treating posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD caused by cardiac events such as heart attacks. This study focuses on cardiac-induced PTSD, which has unique symptoms related to ongoing internal physical threats and is linked to negative health and emotional outcomes. The study aims to test whether EMDR can reduce PTSD symptoms in these patients, as this condition has not yet been addressed in randomized controlled trials. The trial includes two groups one receiving eight weekly individual EMDR therapy sessions, each lasting one hour and following a specialized protocol adapted for cardiac patients, and a waitlist control group that receives no intervention during the 36-week study period but will be offered EMDR therapy afterward. The therapy is delivered by licensed EMDR therapists and is designed to address body sensations linked to trauma, potentially reducing anxiety and cardiovascular stress. Participants will be screened and assessed through interviews, questionnaires, and biomarker tests related to stress and cardiovascular health. These evaluations occur before treatment, after the 12-week intervention period, and again at a 6-month follow-up to measure lasting effects. The main outcome measured is the level of PTSD symptoms, assessed by clinical interviews, along with secondary outcomes including physiological stress responses and stress hormone levels. The study also monitors medication use, cardiac risk factors, and other health-related data throughout the trial.

EMDR Treatment in PTSD Following Cardiac Events