EMDR therapy for adults with borderline personality disorder
Official title: Effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Applied to Borderline Personality Disorder: an Interventional Prospective Case Control Study in a Real-world Care Setting
Run by Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia · NCT06493708 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will try EMDR, a trauma-focused psychotherapy, to reduce symptoms in adults with borderline personality disorder, particularly those with a history of early-life trauma or PTSD.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 56 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Brescia, Brescia) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 1, 2024 |
| Main results expected | May 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | October 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | February 25, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06493708 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18 or older with a DSM-5 diagnosis of borderline personality disorder confirmed by SCID-5 interviews, without recent suicidal ideation or active substance use, are the intended participants.
✕Probably not a fit
People with recent active suicidal ideation, active substance or alcohol use disorders, intellectual disability, or major comorbid Axis I disorders (other than depression, anxiety, or OCD) are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional trial delivers Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to adults diagnosed with borderline personality disorder confirmed by SCID-5-CV and SCID-5-PD. Participants are recruited at ASST Spedali Civili in Brescia, Italy, and receive EMDR according to a clinical protocol with assessments at baseline and follow-up visits. Key exclusions include suicidal ideation within the past three months, intellectual disability, active substance or alcohol disturbances, and most other Axis I diagnoses except depressive, anxiety, and OCD disorders. The trial measures changes in core BPD symptom domains and trauma-related symptoms after EMDR treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, EMDR could reduce trauma-related and emotional dysregulation symptoms in people with BPD and improve daily functioning.
How similar studies have gone: EMDR is a gold-standard therapy for PTSD and smaller studies suggest it can help trauma-related symptoms in BPD, but large, definitive trials in BPD remain limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must be over 18 years old * A current diagnosis of PBD according to the DSM-5 was confirmed using the SCID-5-CV and SCID-5-PD diagnostic scale Exclusion Criteria: * Suicidal ideation in the last 3 months (suicidal thoughts active intentionally but without specific planning or suicidal thoughts active with planning and intentionality) * Intellectual disability * Any active disturbance from use of substances or alcohol * Any other diagnosis of Axis I, except for Depressive Disorders, Anxious Spectrum Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Where it's running
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ASST Spedali Civili Brescia
Brescia, Brescia, Italy Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Alessandra Minelli, Prof — Università degli Studi di Brescia
- Study coordinator: Alessandra Minelli, Prof
- Email: alessandra.minelli@unibs.it
- Phone: +39 380 3503413
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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.