EMDR therapy for young children with trauma and anxiety
Is Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Effective in Children Aged 3 to 6 Years With Trauma-related Disorders or Stressors and Anxiety? A Double-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.
This study is testing if EMDR therapy can help young children aged 3 to 6 who are dealing with trauma and anxiety feel better.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 3 Years to 6 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Fondation Lenval Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nice) |
| Trial ID | NCT05419934 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This project investigates the effectiveness of Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in children aged 3 to 6 years who are experiencing trauma-related disorders and anxiety. The study will enroll 60 children, randomly assigning them to either an EMDR therapy group or a control therapy group. The research will be conducted in four phases: pre-treatment evaluation, treatment administration over 6 to 10 weeks, post-treatment reassessment, and continuation of care for those in the control group. The aim is to determine if EMDR is effective and how cognitive functioning impacts therapy outcomes in this young population.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 3 to 6 with diagnosed trauma-related or anxiety disorders.
Not a fit: Patients with neurodevelopmental disorders or those currently on psychotropic medications may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide effective therapeutic options for young children suffering from trauma and anxiety disorders.
How similar studies have performed: While EMDR has shown promise in older populations, this specific application in very young children is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Child aged 3 to 6 at the time of inclusion; * Established diagnosis of one or more disorders related to a trauma or a stress factor, and/or an anxiety disorder, assessed by the Diagnostic Infant and Preschool Assessment (DIPA) diagnostic tool * Typical language Exclusion Criteria: * Child taking a psychotropic treatment * Suicidal intentions or ideation of the main caregivers, or of the child, and self-harming behavior; * Parent(s) or care figure(s) with a substance use disorder; * Presence or diagnosis of specific pathological conditions in the child (neurodevelopmental disorders based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V) criteria, brain trauma, or neurological pathology); * Participation of the child in another biomedical research on the psychic care of disorders related to trauma or stress and anxiety factors
Where this trial is running
Nice
- Hôpitaux Pédiatriques de Nice CHU-Lenval — Nice, France (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Nina MONER
- Email: ninamoner@etu.univ-cotedazur.fr
- Phone: 04 92 03 47 70
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.