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EMDR for Suicidal Thoughts

N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Lisa M Burback, MD
Research Sponsored by University of Alberta
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Adults aged 18 to 65 with suicidal ideation in the last week
adults (ages 18 to 65) with suicidal ideation in the last week.
Must not have
DES score above 34 or severe dissociative symptoms, psychotic symptoms or manic symptoms
History of severe dissociative symptoms in keeping with a separate dissociative disorder, such as hearing internal voices, amnestic episodes, or dissociative fugue states, passivity experiences or first rank symptoms under stress, or the subjective experience of having alter personality self-states, severe isolation of affect, with inability to feel body sensations or tune into emotions
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up comparing one year before to one year after study enrolment.
Awards & highlights

Summary

This trial tests the safety and effectiveness of online EMDR therapy for adults with suicidal thoughts. EMDR helps reduce the emotional pain of traumatic memories using specific eye movements. The study compares this therapy with regular psychiatric care to see if it reduces anxiety, depression, and suicidal thinking. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychological treatment developed to reduce distressing thoughts and feelings, initially used for trauma but also effective for addictions, phobias, and pain.

Who is the study for?
Adults aged 18-65 with recent suicidal thoughts can join this trial if they have a primary care provider, can consent to treatment, and commit to twice-weekly sessions for 12 total. They need their own computer with camera/mic and a private space. They must avoid certain drugs before/after sessions.
What is being tested?
The trial is testing virtual EMDR therapy's safety and effectiveness against usual care in reducing suicidal ideation. Participants are randomly assigned to either receive EMDR plus usual care or just the usual care, comparing mental health outcomes pre- and post-treatment.
What are the potential side effects?
Potential side effects of EMDR may include temporary increases in distress, vivid dreams, light-headedness during sessions, emergence of new traumatic memories, or changes in emotions.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
Select...
I am between 18 and 65 years old and have had thoughts of suicide in the past week.
Select...
I am between 18 and 65 years old and have had thoughts of suicide in the past week.
Select...
I have a computer with a camera and microphone for therapy sessions.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
Select...
I experience severe dissociation, psychosis, or manic symptoms.
Select...
I have experienced severe symptoms like hearing voices, memory loss, or feeling detached from my emotions.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~comparing one year before to one year after study enrolment.
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and comparing one year before to one year after study enrolment. for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Beck Scale for Suicide ideation (BSS)
Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) Recent (self report of past 1 week)
Secondary study objectives
ACES Questionnaire (ACES)
BDI II (Beck Depression Inventory II)
DERS (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale)
+5 more

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Virtual EMDRExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Patients will receive 1 to 3 preparation sessions (which will include psychoeducation and preparation exercises before EMDR), followed by up to 12 EMDR sessions, delivered over encrypted Zoom videoconferencing. EMDR is an evidence based trauma therapy. These EMDR sessions will focus on the experiences, urges or negative thoughts associated with their suicidal thoughts. The sessions will be 90 minutes in length and occur twice per week. This group will also have access to usual psychiatric care, which usually includes a family doctor or psychiatrist, mental health therapist and having access to Edmonton's community mental health programs.
Group II: Treatment as usualActive Control1 Intervention
This group will also have access to usual care, which usually includes a family doctor or psychiatrist, mental health therapist and having access to Edmonton's community mental health programs.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
2010
N/A
~100

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

University of AlbertaLead Sponsor
913 Previous Clinical Trials
390,391 Total Patients Enrolled
Alberta Health servicesOTHER
162 Previous Clinical Trials
650,972 Total Patients Enrolled
Lisa M Burback, MDPrincipal InvestigatorUniversity of Alberta

Media Library

EMDR Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT04181047 — N/A
Suicidal Thoughts Research Study Groups: Virtual EMDR, Treatment as usual
Suicidal Thoughts Clinical Trial 2023: EMDR Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT04181047 — N/A
EMDR 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT04181047 — N/A
~10 spots leftby Sep 2025
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