Which factors shape EMDR outcomes for depressive symptoms
Official title: Predictors and Process Moderators of EMDR Therapy for Depressive Symptoms: Protocol for a Real-world Prospective Observational Study
Run by University of Turin, Italy · NCT07033741 · Data updated 2026-11-12
See if patient and therapist characteristics predict how well EMDR helps adults in Italy who have depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, or dissociative symptoms.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Turin, Italy Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Turin, Turin) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 8, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 2027 |
| Study ends | December 2027 |
| Registry record updated | November 25, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07033741 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) with clinically significant depressive symptoms or related anxiety, post-traumatic stress, or dissociative symptoms who can give informed consent and are receiving EMDR from a certified Italian EMDR therapist are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with active psychosis or schizophrenia, dementia, severe personality disorders, unstable serious medical conditions, or acute suicidality requiring hospitalization are unlikely to benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a naturalistic observational study enrolling certified Italian EMDR therapists and their adult patients receiving EMDR for depressive symptoms. Researchers will collect baseline measures of psychological functioning, comorbid symptoms (anxiety, PTSD symptoms, dissociation, emotional dysregulation, sleep problems), personality features, and the quality of the therapeutic alliance, then track changes in depressive symptoms during routine EMDR treatment. Analyses will examine mediators, moderators, and predictors of treatment outcome to identify which factors are linked with better or worse response. The work is led by the University of Turin and reflects real-world clinical practice rather than a controlled treatment protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help personalize EMDR so patients most likely to benefit receive the right treatment approach.
How similar studies have gone: EMDR has strong evidence for PTSD and some positive evidence for depressive symptoms, but studies specifically identifying predictors and moderators of EMDR outcomes in routine clinical settings are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Participants: Therapist * Inclusion Criteria: * certified members of the Italian Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Association * Exclusion Criteria: * inability or unwillingness to comply with study protocols or schedules Patient * Inclusion Criteria: * age 18 years or older * capacity of providing informed consent * presenting with clinically significant symptoms in at least one of the following domains: anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, or dissociative symptoms. * Exclusion Criteria: * history of psychotic symptoms or schizophrenia * dementia * severe personality disorders * a serious, unstable medical condition * acute suicidality that needs hospitalization.
Where it's running
-
University of Turin
Turin, Turin, Italy Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Francesca Cotardo, Psychologist, PhD Student
- Email: francesca.cotardo@unito.it
- Phone: +39 3293826487
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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.