The Key to Integrated Trauma Treatment in Psychosis Trial

Summary

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) have a significant trauma etiology: trauma has been reported in 65 - 80% in this patient group and have a negative impact on prognosis. Trauma treatment is currently not offered in SSDs due to a lack of evidence. KIT is a pragmatic trial comparing the effectiveness of added trauma focused therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to standard treatment in SSDs.

The study will compare EMDR as add on to treatment as usual (TAU) to TAU in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). The overall aim is to examine the effectiveness of EMDR on trauma symptoms in SSDs.

Participants will receive max. 26 sessions of EMDR, and complete assessments before, during and after the course of therapy, in addition to a period of time (6 months) after therapy to examine long-term effects.

Conditions

• Psychiatric Diagnosis
• Schizophrenia Disorders
• Psychological Trauma, Historical

Interventions

OTHER

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for psychosis

EMDR aims to treat and process trauma by safely retrieving the trauma memories while taxing the working memory. EMDR targets trauma symptoms through memory reprocessing of traumatic memories, and consists of eight flexible phases: history taking/case conceptualization; preparation for memory reprocessing; assessment/identification of a target memory; desensitization/reprocessing; installation of positive cognition; body scan; closure; and re-evaluation. EMDR in the current trial has psychosis-specific adaptations including focus on psychoeducation, preparation for reprocessing and patient safety. Techniques targeting dissociation, psychotic symptoms and psychosis-related challenges are included.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Helgeland Hospital Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• Diakonhjemmet Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Helse Stavanger HF

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Helse Fonna Hospital Trust

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University Hospital of North Norway

  collaborator OTHER

• Oslo University Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Voss DPS Bjørkeli

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Solli DPS

  collaborator OTHER

• Betanien DPS

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• St. Olavs Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Haukeland University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-09-01

Primary Completion

2027-12-31

Completion

2028-12-31

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations