Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing on the Quality of Life in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Abdolhadi Jahanfar,1 Zhila Fereidouni,2 Mohammad Behnammoghadam,1 Azizallah Dehghan,3 Somayeh Bashti1 1Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 2Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Nursing School, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Fars, Iran; 3Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, IranCorrespondence: Zhila FereidouniDepartment of Medical Surgical Nursing, Nursing School, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Fars, IranEmail [email protected] BehnammoghadamDepartment of Critical Care Nursing, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, IranEmail [email protected]: The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) on the quality of life (QOL) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial study that investigated the efficacy of EMDR on the QOL in patients with MDD. In this study, all patients suffered from psychological trauma were currently in a major depressive episode and had a history of depression. 70 patients with MDD were selected through convenience sampling. Patients were then assigned to two groups of intervention and control (35 patients in each group). The assignment was performed randomly. For the intervention group, EMDR were performed in eight 90 mins sessions over 3 weeks. For the control group, no intervention was considered. Data on the QOL were collected using the WHO Quality of Life-BREF instrument before and after the treatment, and analysed using descriptive tests, paired t-test, independent t-test, and chi-square with SPSS v19.Results: This study showed that the QOL in all its domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environments) was significantly improved in patients with MDD in the intervention group after 8 sessions of EMDR. The post-treatment effect for the EMDR condition was 2.11, with a confidence interval of 1.3 to 2.7. Another finding of this study was that there was a statistically significant difference in the QOL scores in patients in the control group before and after the treatment; however, the mean difference in the intervention group was more than the control.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that EMDR were effective on the QOL in patients with major depressive disorder, and improved individuals’ QOL and all its domains. Treatment team members may use this technique as an effective and supportive one to improve the QOL in patients.Keywords: major depressive disorder, quality of life, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

Keywords

• major depressive disorder
• quality of life
• eye movement desensitization and reprocessing