Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy of EMDR Therapy in Adults with PTSD and Mild Intellectual Disability or Borderline Intellectual Functioning and Mental Health Problems: A Multiple Baseline Study

Verhagen, Inge; van der Heijden, Renate; de Jongh, Ad; Korzilius, Hubert; Mevissen, Liesbeth; Didden, Robert

Abstract

Background
Little is known about the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in people with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning (MID-BIF).

Aims
To explore the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of EMDR therapy in adults with MID-BIF, PTSD, and comorbid mental health and psycho-social problems.

Methods and procedures
Data were collected from nine participants using a non-concurrent multiple baseline design. PTSD symptoms, level of daily life impairment, and possible adverse effect were measured weekly during baseline, treatment, post-treatment, and at three-month follow-up. Depressive symptoms, general psychopathology, and mental health problems were assessed once in every phase.

Outcomes and results
Participants displayed a significant reduction of PTSD symptoms, and the majority of participants no longer met criteria for DSM-5 PTSD diagnosis after therapy. EMDR therapy appeared to be safe, as no adverse events were reported during the study time frame. Further, participants showed a decrease in depressive symptoms as well as less severe general psychopathology and mental health problems following therapy.

Conclusion
EMDR therapy was found to be safe, feasible, and (potentially) efficacious in decreasing PTSD symptoms, loss of PTSD diagnoses, reduction of level of daily life impairment, and general psychopathology for adults with MID-BIF, suffering from both severe mental health and psycho-social problems.

Citation

Verhagen, I., van der Heijden, R., de Jongh, A., Korzilius, H., Mevissen, L., & Didden, R. (2023). Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy of EMDR Therapy in Adults with PTSD and Mild Intellectual Disability or Borderline Intellectual Functioning and Mental Health Problems: A Multiple Baseline Study. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 16(4), 291-313. https://doi.org/10.1080/19315864.2022.2148791

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Nov 23, 2022
• Publication Date: Oct 2, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jan 11, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 11, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities
• Print ISSN: 1931-5864
• Publisher: Routledge
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 291-313
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19315864.2022.2148791
• Keywords: Psychiatry and Mental health
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/19315864.2022.2148791
• Additional Information: Funders : Vereniging EMDR Nederland/Dutch EMDR Association