Understanding adults’ experiences of EMDR for cleft-related trauma v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding adults’ experiences of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy for experiences relating to cleft lip and/or palate
IRAS ID
370368
Contact name
Erin Morgan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff Joint Research Office, Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 27 days
Research summary
Individuals with a cleft lip and/or palate can experience numerous adverse interpersonal trauma experiences, such as bullying, which can have a lasting impact on wellbeing. However, cleft research to date is limited in understanding what psychological therapy may be experienced as positive to improve wellbeing following these events. The James Lind Alliance (JLA) highlighted how understanding what psychological interventions are needed within this population and when is a top priority within cleft care and cleft research.
EMDR has been found to be beneficial for those who have experienced bullying within non-cleft populations. Therefore, it was considered as a potential intervention that might also be appropriate for those with cleft. This offering also falls in line with Public Health Wales' recommendation for more specialist trauma interventions to be used within more health settings within Wales. However, the lack of research within a cleft populations means it is currently unclear as to whether Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an intervention that adults with cleft experience positively in relation to their interpersonal trauma.
This research uses a observational qualitative design to try to understand adults' with a cleft, who have experienced interpersonal trauma's, experience of EMDR therapy. The research aims to understand participants experiences of receiving EMDR therapy for interpersonal trauma, as well as understand the experience that led them to seeking support and being offered EMDR therapy, as well as understand the experience following receiving and concluding EMDR therapy.
90-minute narrative-style semi-structured interviews will take place with approximately 10 participants who have finished EMDR therapy with the Welsh Centre for Cleft Lip and Palate (currently the only UK service that offers EMDR therapy routinely within a cleft service) for cleft-related interpersonal trauma. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) will be used to analyse the interview data.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
26/WA/0106
Date of REC Opinion
11 May 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion