Addiction-focused EMDR therapy for inpatients using non-opioid drugs

The Feasibility and Potential Efficacy of Adding Addiction-focused EMDR to Regular Addiction Treatment A Multiple Baseline Study in Inpatients Who Use Non-opioid Drugs

Not applicable Interventional IrisZorg · NCT05923697

This study is testing whether adding a special therapy called AF-EMDR can help people in the hospital who are struggling with non-opioid drug addiction feel less cravings and improve their treatment.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment9 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorIrisZorg Academic / other
Locations1 site (Tiel, Gelderland)
Trial IDNCT05923697 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the feasibility and potential clinical efficacy of addiction-focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (AF-EMDR) therapy as an add-on intervention for inpatients with non-opioid substance use disorders. Participants will receive four 90-minute AF-EMDR sessions twice a week in addition to their standard inpatient addiction treatment. The study aims to assess changes in daily craving and other feasibility issues among a small group of eligible adults. The findings may inform future pilot randomized controlled trials.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with a primary non-opioid use disorder and a planned inpatient stay of at least four weeks.

Not a fit: Patients with serious therapy-interfering behaviors or symptoms that require immediate intervention will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could provide a novel therapeutic option to help patients achieve and maintain long-term abstinence from non-opioid drugs.

How similar studies have performed: While there is limited research on AF-EMDR therapy, previous studies on EMDR in other contexts have shown promising results, indicating potential for success in this novel application.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, patients must meet the following criteria:

Diagnosis of Tobacco Use Disorder according to the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) criteria.

Age ≥ 18 years.

Good Dutch language proficiency (based on clinical judgement).

Smoking, on average, ≥ 10 cigarettes per day pre-admission.

A score of at least 5 on a scale from 0 to 10, for motivation and self-efficacy

A planned inpatient stay of ≥ 4 weeks.

Written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

A patient who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

Serious therapy interfering behavior or symptoms that also interfere with TAU, based on clinical judgement (e. g. psychiatric or medical crisis that requires immediate intervention).

Where this trial is running

Tiel, Gelderland

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Substance Use DisordersAddictionEMDRNon-opioid drug disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.