Early online EMDR group intervention for perinatal trauma: INTEGRATE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A multicentre, randomised, parallel-group study to compare the effectiveness of early eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing group intervention with care as usual (CAU) in preventing post traumatic stress symptoms in women who have experienced a traumatic birth (INTEGRATE)
IRAS ID
269534
Contact name
Marlene Sinclair
Contact email
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN68624341
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 9 days
Research summary
Post partum post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition experienced by up to 17% of women. Women who have experienced an emergency caesarean section or traumatic childbirth experience are at particularly high risk of developing the disorder following the birth of their baby. Research has shown that mental health conditions including stress disorders have a negative impact on both mother and infants’ physical health, mothers’ perceived quality of life, as well as short- and long-term effects on the child’s social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive development. Eye Movement Desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is one of two treatments recommended by Nice (2014) for PTSD. The INTEGRATE study aims to assess whether an online early EMDR group intervention (i-GTEP) is more effective than care as usual for preventing post-traumatic stress disorder and post-partum depression in women who have experienced a traumatic birth.
The study will be conducted in Health and Social Care sites and online. Women who have had a caesarean section, a traumatic birth event and stress symptoms will be eligible for the study. Eligible women will be randomised to receive either the online EMDR group intervention or usual care. Women in the intervention group will be invited to receive three 90-minute intervention sessions in a group setting, delivered by midwives who have been trained in facilitating EMDR-m IGTEP, comprising of psychoeducation, emotional regulation techniques and eye movement reprocessing exercises.
Women will be in the study for 16 weeks. Women in the intervention and care as usual groups will be asked to fill in online self-complete questionnaires before the intervention at up to 3 weeks post-partum and after the intervention at 12 weeks post-partum. A clinician administered interview will be conducted at 12 weeks postpartum. Results will be posted on the Doctoral Midwifery Research Society and Centre for Maternal, Fetal and Infant Research websites and disseminated to participants at their request.REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
21/NI/0067
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jun 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion