An EMDR app for PTSD in people with substance dependence.
Official title: Efficacy and Feasibility of Autonomous Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (A-EMDR) for Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorders
Run by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health · NCT07146633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether an app-based autonomous EMDR program helps adults with PTSD who also have a substance use disorder.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 24 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Toronto, Ontario) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 20, 2026 |
| Main results expected | January 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | January 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | May 22, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07146633 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) who are fluent in English, have PTSD with a PCL-5 score >32, a past-year substance use disorder (other than caffeine), are medically stable, and have no current suicidal risk or acute psychosis/mania are the best fits for this study.
✕Probably not a fit
People with severe or unstable mental illness, current suicidal risk, non–English speakers, or those unable or unwilling to attend in-person visits or pause other new behavioral therapies are unlikely to benefit from this pilot.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This open-label pilot randomized, wait-list controlled study tests autonomous eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (A-EMDR) delivered via an app in adults with PTSD and a co-occurring substance use disorder. Participants are randomized to four weeks of A-EMDR plus treatment-as-usual (TAU) or a wait-list TAU arm, with primary outcomes measured at week 4 and a follow-up at week 8 for the A-EMDR group. Enrollment requires adults with PCL-5 scores >32 and a past-year SUD, and excludes those with unstable severe mental illness or current suicidality. Feasibility, safety, and symptom change data will guide whether a larger definitive trial is warranted.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, the app could provide a brief, low-cost PTSD treatment option that is easier to scale for people with co-occurring substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Face-to-face EMDR has established evidence for PTSD, but autonomous or app-delivered EMDR is relatively novel and has limited prior testing, particularly in populations with co-occurring substance use disorders.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18-years old or older * Fluent in English * Diagnosed with PTSD by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5 past month version score \>32) * Diagnosed with past-year substance use disorder other than caffeine by structured clinical interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) * Agrees not to participate in other treatments during the study duration (e.g., mindfulness, yoga, biofeedback, self-hypnosis or tai chi) except individuals who have been already on continuous therapies for at least three months Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of a severe or unstable mental illness that precludes safe participation in the study by a healthcare practitioner such as acute psychosis or mania diagnosed by a healthcare practitioner * Current suicidality risk as indicated during the conduct of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) (21) with concurrence after a study physician's evaluation if the response to C-SSRS questions 1 or 2 is "yes"
Where it's running
-
100 Stokes St
Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.