A randomized study to compare the effects of EMDR added to TAU on substance memory in a residential addiction setting

ABSTRACT

Background

The “Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing” (EMDR) is a therapy targeting traumatic memories. Although memories from their substance use memory may increase the risk of relapse, only a few studies investigated the effects of EMDR in addiction.

Methods

Individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) receiving TAU in a residential setting were randomized for EMDR in conjunction with TAU (EMDR + TAU) and TAU groups. Craving for the substance, substance target memory features, relapse rates and other measures of EMDR efficacy were assessed after intervention at 6 weeks (T1) and 6-month follow-up (T2).

Results

EMDR + TAU significantly suppressed substance craving, pleasantness, and target memory vividness at T1, but increased substance unpleasant scores. EMDR effects were also significantly observed at T2 for pleasantness and vividness. EMDR + TAU group showed high scores and reported benefits from EMDR, but not significant differences in relapse rate, vs. TAU group.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that EMDR + TAU in SUD inpatient in a residential setting may reduce substance craving, and in the meantime, provides proof-of-concept on targeting substance memory.

KEYWORDS:

• Eye movement desensitization reprocessing
• substance use disorder
• addiction memory
• residential programmes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary materials. The raw data are available upon reasonable request.

Statement of ethics

The participants have given their written informed consent and the study protocol was approved by Centro Soranzo Scientific Committee before starting of the study (7^Th November, 2015 meeting). No internal protocol study number is available. The research complies with the guidelines for human studies and was conducted ethically in accordance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.