loading page

EMDR treatment-program for women with posttraumatic stress disorder after childbirth: a prospective cohort study
  • +2
  • Leonieke Kranenburg,
  • Hilmar Bijma,
  • Alex Eggink,
  • Esther Knijff,
  • Mijke Lambregtse-van den Berg
Leonieke Kranenburg
Erasmus Medical Center

Corresponding Author:l.kranenburg@erasmusmc.nl

Author Profile
Hilmar Bijma
Erasmus Medical Center
Author Profile
Alex Eggink
Erasmus Medical Center
Author Profile
Esther Knijff
Erasmus Medical Center
Author Profile
Mijke Lambregtse-van den Berg
Erasmus Medical Center
Author Profile

Abstract

Objective To describe the implementation and outcomes of an Eye Movement and Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)-treatment-program for women with Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth. Design Prospective cohort-study with pre- and post measurements. Setting A large university hospital in the Netherlands. Population Women who gave birth to a living child at least 4 weeks ago, with a PTSD diagnosis, or severe PTSD-symptoms combined with another DSM-5 diagnosis, who provided written informed consent. Methods The intervention applied was EMDR, an evidence-based psychotherapy for patients with PTSD. Main Outcome Measures The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) was administered before and after treatment. Trauma history was assessed before treatment with the Life Events Checklist for the DSM-5 (LEC-5), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF) and the Childbirth Perception Scale (CPS). Results Forty-four women were referred, 26 met the inclusion criteria. After treatment, none of the women met the criteria for diagnosis of PTSD anymore after on average 5 weekly sessions of EMDR-treatment. These outcomes are extra promising, as they were achieved in quite a complex group of women with relatively high psychiatric comorbidity (64%) and high rates of previous mental health treatment (80%). Conclusions Implementing an EMDR-therapy treatment program for women with after childbirth PTSD in the context of a large academic hospital is feasible and effective. Key factors for success include a close collaboration between the relevant hospital departments and a thorough case conceptualisation addressing the aetiology of the PTSD. Funding No external funding. Keywords Posttraumatic Stress Disorder after childbirth, EMDR-therapy, Psychiatry, Implementation.