Trauma-focused therapy in early psychosis (EASE)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Trauma-focused therapy in early psychosis: A randomised controlled trial assessing the efficacy and mechanisms of action of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for psychosis (EMDRp) in comparison to treatment as usual in Early Intervention settings
IRAS ID
339008
Contact name
Filippo Varese
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NIHR168901, NIHR award ID
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Psychosis involves distressing experiences like hearing voices or having unusual beliefs. Many people with psychosis have also experienced trauma, which can trigger or worsen symptoms. Growing evidence supports the use of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), a NICE-recommended treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, to treat other mental health problems that are either brought about or exacerbated by trauma, including psychosis.
Our team has already conducted an initial feasibility randomised controlled trial of an adapted ‘EMDR for psychosis’ (EMDRp) intervention, which signalled the potential utility of EMDRp for EIP service users and resulted in positive feasibility/acceptability data.
The EASE trial is a larger follow-on multi-site efficacy randomised controlled trial that will involve 314 people who have experienced trauma and are receiving care from EIP services. Half will receive 16 sessions of EMDRp alongside their usual care; the other half will receive usual care only. We will follow up participants for 12 months to see if EMDR improves symptoms more than standard NHS care. We will also explore how EMDR works – whether it helps people manage trauma memories and change negative beliefs. Some participants will be interviewed about their experiences to help us better understand how the therapy worked and whether it was helpful.
We will also conduct a Study Within A Trial, a non-randomised case series of 15 participants who require an interpreter to access talking therapies. Participants will be offered the same EMDRp intervention, but delivered via an interpreter. Interviews will be used to understand the experiences of participants, interpreters, trial therapists and other research workers in this process.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/NW/0046
Date of REC Opinion
10 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion