Effect of early postpartum EMDR on reducing psychological complaints in women with a traumatic childbirth experience

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flowchart of selection of study population.

Table 1. Characteristics of participants at baseline.

	EMDR	CAU	p
	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)	Mann-Whitney U
Maternal age (years)	33.7 (3.7)	33.2 (2.9)	0.82
	%(n)	%(n)	Fisher’s exact test
Ethnicity			1000
Dutch	90.9 (10)	100 (9)
Not Dutch	9.1 (1)	0 (0)
Level of education			1000
Low	9.1 (1)	0 (0)
Intermediate	36.4 (4)	44.4 (4)
High	54.5 (6)	55.6 (5)
Parity			0.157
Primiparous	54.5 (6)	88.9 (8)
Multiparous	45.5 (5)	11.1 (1)
Mode of delivery			0.783
Spontaneous vaginal	36.4 (4)	22.2 (2)
Instrumental vaginal	27.3 (3)	22.2 (2)
Planned cesarean section	0 (0)	11.1 (1)
Not planned cesarean section	36.4 (4)	44.4 (4)
Responsible caregiver during delivery			1000
(Resident) obstetrician	54.5 (6)	55.6 (5)
Hospital-based midwife	45.5 (5)	44.4 (4)
Medical interventions/complications during delivery			1000
No	9.1 (1)	11.1 (1)
Yes	90.9 (10)	88.9 (8)

Figure 2. Comparison of mean PCL-5 and PPQ scores (EMDR vs. CAU) at T0, T1, T2 and T3.

Table 2. Comparison of difference in mean decline in score of PCL-5 and PPQ between groups at T1, T2 and T3.

	T1			T2			T3
	EMDR (n = 11) Mean	CAU (n = 9) Mean	Mean difference (95%-CI)	EMDR (n = 11) Mean	CAU (n = 9) Mean	Mean difference (95%-CI)	EMDR (n = 11) Mean	CAU (n = 9) Mean	Mean difference (95%-CI)
PCL-5	13.84	9.64	−4.21 (−11.80; 3.38)	11.19	11.44	0.26 (−7.72; 8.23)	14.87	9.38	−5.50 (−11.74; 0.75)
PPQ	8.01	4.33	−3.68 (−12.62; 5.26)	9.30	6.31	−2.99 (−11.50; 5.52)	11.59	10.17	−1.42 (−7.07; 4.23)

Table 3. Statements about work absence related to traumatic birth experience: point prevalence (at T1, T2 and T3) and total amount of women to whom the statement applied (EMDR vs. CAU).

	EMDR N = 11				CAU N = 9
	T1 %(n)	T2 %(n)	T3 %(n)	Total N	T1 %(n)	T2 %(n)	T3 %(n)	Total N
Had a paying job before their pregnancy	100 (11)			11	100 (9)			9
Resumed working (after maternity leave)	63.6 (7)	72.7 (8)	81.8 (9)	9	88.9 (8)	77.8 (7)	100 (9)	9
Of the women who resumed working: took sick days related to the traumatic birth experience	0 (0)	12.5 (1)	33.3 (3)	4	37.5 (3)	28.6 (2)	33.3 (3)	4
Of the women who resumed working: worked less hours after maternity leave	28.6 (2)	25.0 (2)	22.2 (2)	4	50.0 (4)	14.3 (1)	44.4 (4)	4
Women who worked less hours/did not resume working after maternity leave due to the traumatic birth experience	16.7 (1)	0 (0)	25.0 (1)	2	40.0 (2)	66.7 (2)	25.0 (1)	2
Sought professional help for trauma-related psychological complaints	27.3 (3)	45.5 (5)	63.6 (7)	8	33.3 (3)	33.3 (3)	44.4 (4)	4
Received a psychiatric diagnosis	9.1 (1)	0 (0)	9.1 (1)	2	11.1 (1)	11.1 (1)	11.1 (1)	2

Data availability statement

Data used in this analysis are stored digitally in a password-protected University database. Contact Dr. Martine Hollander ([email protected]) if you wish to request the data.