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Effectiveness of EMDR Therapy on Cognitive Performances in Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A 6-Month Follow-Up Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2025

T. B. Jannini ,
L. Longo ,
R. Rossi ,
M. Gagliano ,
A. Pompeo ,
A. Di Mario ,
C. Niolu ,
A. Siracusano  and
G. Di Lorenzo
T. B. Jannini*
Affiliation:
Department of Experimental Medicine
L. Longo
Affiliation:
Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
R. Rossi
Affiliation:
Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
M. Gagliano
Affiliation:
Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
A. Pompeo
Affiliation:
Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
A. Di Mario
Affiliation:
Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
C. Niolu
Affiliation:
Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
A. Siracusano
Affiliation:
Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
G. Di Lorenzo
Affiliation:
Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) is a clinical entity characterized not only by the typical symptoms of hyperarousal, avoidance, and flashbacks but also by disturbances in self-organization. Given the well-known association between trauma and cognitive deficits, it is common to observe a significant prevalence of such alterations among patients with cPTSD.

Objectives

The aim of this study is therefore to assess cognitive functioning in response to treatment using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Methods

Fifty-eight patients were recruited and divided into two groups (28 PTSD; 23 cPTSD), to whom scales for post-traumatic symptomatology (Impact of Event Scale – revised – IES-R; Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale – CAPS), along with cognitive tests (MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery - MCCB), were administered. The patients were evaluated at baseline (T0) and 6 months after the completion of the last EMDR session (T6).

Results

EMDR was effective in the treatment of post-traumatic symptomatology (IES-R; CAPS - p<0.001). The PTSD group showed improvement in the domains of verbal learning (RAVLT), visual attention (TMT-A), and working memory (CBTT) (p<0.05). The cPTSD group reported improvement in the verbal learning domain (p<0.05).

Conclusions

In addition to clinical symptomatology, EMDR has been shown to be effective in treating cognitive deficits in patients with PTSD and cPTSD. However, further studies are needed to confirm the results and identify the underlying mechanisms of this effect.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Information

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 68 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 33rd European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2025 , pp. S222
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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