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EMDR Therapy in Preterm-Born Infants With Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms

NCT07590778 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 10

Last updated 2026-05-15

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study examines a trauma-focused treatment for very young children who were born prematurely and developed post-traumatic stress related symptoms after medical care. Preterm infants often experience stressful events in the hospital, which can affect their emotional and behavioral development.

In this study, an adapted form (storytelling) of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy was used with preterm born children aged 0 to 2 years. The treatment was delivered in a small group of participants, and changes in post- traumatic stress symptoms, sleep, emotional functioning, parental PTSD symptoms and perceived bonding and parent-infant interaction were monitored over time using parent reports.

The aim of the study is to evaluate whether this early intervention (EMDR, storytelling) is feasible, well accepted by families, and potentially effective in reducing post-traumatic stress related symptoms in this vulnerable population.

Conditions

  • Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms
  • Preterm Infant

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) storytelling method

The EMDR storytelling method is a developmentally adapted trauma-focused intervention based on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The treatment is designed for infants and toddlers (in preverbal period) and involves caregiver participation. A structured storytelling approach is used to process traumatic medical experiences. Participants received up to six individual sessions of approximately one hour each.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • St. Antonius Hospital

    collaborator OTHER

  • Tanja Holtackers

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Carlijn de Roos, PhD · Levvel, Academic Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
0 Months
Max Age
24 Months
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-02-26
Primary Completion
2026-01-31
Completion
2026-02-01

Countries

  • Netherlands

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07590778 on ClinicalTrials.gov