Cited by 61Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchCOVID-19 and Mental HealthDigital Mental Health Interventions

COVID-19, isolation, quarantine: on the efficacy of Internet-based eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for ongoing trauma

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Perri, Rinaldo, Castelli, Paola, La Rosa, Cecilia, Zucchi, Teresa, Onofri, Antonio·2021·Brain Sciences

Abstract

Literature points to cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) as evidence-based therapies for trauma-related disorders. Treatments are typically administered in a vis-à-vis setting with patients reporting symptoms of a previously experienced trauma. Conversely, online-therapies and ongoing trauma have not received adequate attention. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two brief treatments for health professionals and individuals suffering from the circumstances imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The EMDR and the trauma focused-CBT were administered online during the earliest stage of distress to manage the ongoing trauma associated to quarantine or disease. Thirty-eight patients satisfying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for acute stress disorder were randomly assigned to the EMDR or CBT treatment. Both groups received a 7-session therapy, and psychometric tests were administered before, after the treatment and at one-month follow-up to assess traumatic symptoms, depression and anxiety. Results revealed that both treatments reduced anxiety by 30%, and traumatic and depressive symptoms by 55%. Present findings indicate the internet-based EMDR and CBT as equally effective brief treatments, also suggesting a maintenance of the effects as indicated by the follow-up evaluation. The EMDR and CBT might be considered as first line therapies to treat the ongoing trauma and to prevent the sensitization and accumulation of trauma memories.

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  • Other psychotherapeutic approaches such as 2-week online psychotherapy using mindfulness-based stress reduction and positive psychology techniques, and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing for ongoing trauma, have shown efficacies.

    “Other psychotherapeutic approaches such as 2-week online psychotherapy using mindfulness-based stress reduction and positive psychology techniques for resilience building,12 and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing for ongoing trauma13 have also shown efficacies.”

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  1. [5]Foa E.B. Keane T.M. Friedman M.J. Cohen J.A. Effective Treatments for PTSD: Guidelines from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Guilford Press New York, NY, USA 2010
  2. [25]National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Management of PTSD in Adults and Children in Primary and Secondary Care National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence: Guidance; Gaskell Leicester, UK 2005 978-1-904671-25-1 21834189
  3. [28]Spielberger C.D. Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory STAI (Form Y) (“Self-Evaluation Questionnaire”) Consulting Psychologists Press Palo Alto, CA, USA 1983

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Authors
Perri, R., Castelli, P., La Rosa, C., Zucchi, T., & Onofri, A.
Affiliations
  • University Niccolò Cusano (IT)
  • De Sanctis Clinical Center, 00166 Rome, Italy
  • Zucchi Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Office, Private Practice, Via Giuseppe Catani, 28/C, 59100 Prato, Italy
Corresponding author
Perri, Rinaldo
Venue
Brain Sciences
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2021-04-30
Volume
11
Issue
5
Pages
579
ISSN
2076-3425 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3158682685
Cited by
61
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 6
FWCI
7.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
EMDR Europe (2020 – 01)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine, online therapy, EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, acute stress disorder, depression, anxiety, trauma symptoms, brief psychotherapy, treatment efficacy

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