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NCT Number: NCT06771375

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to Treat Chronic Pruritus

Pruritus is a common symptom of numerous dermatological and non-dermatological conditions. Current treatments for chronic pruritus (CP) are often not fully effective and may have burdensome side effects. Recently, the trauma exposure technique Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) that is recommended as first line treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder has been reported to be also effective in the treatment of CP in anecdotal clinical case observations. However, to the best of the investigator's knowledge, the efficacy of EMDR in CP has not yet been systematically explored. This study aims at addressing this unmet need in a prospective pilot study comparing EMDR versus treatment as usual (TAU).

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Key information

Conditions

Chronic Pruritus

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Provided written informed consent
  • Age 18 to 75 years
  • Skindex-29 (questionnaire) symptoms subscale ≥42
  • Confirmed diagnosis CP
  • Itch intensity of min. ≥ 4 on the 0-10 numerical rating scale within the last 7 days
  • Stable course of treatment in the two weeks prior to the study

Exclusion criteria

  • Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, severe psychiatric disorders such as delusional disorder, suicidality or dementia.
  • Patients on phototherapy
  • Acute attacks of an autoimmune disease such as Crohn's disease
  • Serious cardiac disease

Treatment and study plan

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Behavioral

EMDR is a psychotherapeutic approach originally designed for individuals suffering from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It facilitates the processing of memories through a structured eight-phase treatment, involving the patient's focused attention on traumatic images, thoughts, and sensations while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, typically through guided eye movements. This process aims to reduce the emotional distress associated with aversive memories, promoting adaptive coping mechanisms and psychological healing. Recently, the indications for the method have been extended so that EMDR is also used for chronic pain and depressive disorders.

Primary outcomes

  1. Adherence (%)

    Time frame: up to 8 month

    Adherence/ receipt of intervention and retention will be assessed by tracking % of sessions completed, number of dropouts and number of patients completing final assessment.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Chrysovalandis Schwale, Dr.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+41 61 265 52 94

Rainer Schaefert, Prof.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+41 61 265 52 94

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to Treat Chronic Pruritus in a Multidisciplinary Tertiary Care Setting- a Feasibility Study

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 13, 2025
Registry last updated
Jan 13, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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