A systematic review of randomized controlled trials investigatingthe efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing(EMDR) in reducing symptoms of Post-Traumatic StressDisorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents

Introduction Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) profoundly affects both children and adults. Traumafocusedcognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is the primary treatment for child PTSD.However, there is a need for alternative therapies when the child does not respond to orengage with TF-CBT. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a provenintervention for alleviating PTSD symptoms in adults, but research regarding its efficacy inthe younger population is rare. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of EMDR in treating PTSD and subthreshold PTSD in children and adolescents. Methods In this systematic literature review, we utilized two databases and employed selection criteriabased on the PICO framework. We focused on randomized controlled trials (RCT) publishedafter the year 2000, but included studies with less rigorous designs to prevent omittingpotentially valuable information. A risk of bias assessment was conducted for all includedRCTs. The review was registered in PROSPERO, The International Prospective Register ofSystematic Reviews, before the search. Results Our search yielded five RCTs with totally 285 participants and three single-group studies thatincluded 53 children and adolescents. We identified a notable scarcity of RCTs within thefield. However, the included studies generally gave support to some efficacy of EMDR inreducing PTSD symptoms in the younger population. Conclusion There were only a handful of eligible RCTs focused on EMDR in the treatment of PTSD inchildren and adolescents. Additional trials to clarify its efficacy and mode of action in thispopulation are needed, including long-term studies.