Postpartum Early EMDR therapy Intervention (PERCEIVE) study for women after a traumatic birth experience: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Y M G A Hendrix; K S M van Dongen; A de Jongh; M G van Pampus

doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05545-6

Postpartum Early EMDR therapy Intervention (PERCEIVE) study for women after a traumatic birth experience: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Trials. 2021 Sep 6;22(1):599. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05545-6.

Authors

Y M G A Hendrix^#¹, K S M van Dongen^#², A de Jongh^{3

4

5

6

7}, M G van Pampus²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, OLVG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. y.m.g.a.hendrix@olvg.nl.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, OLVG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
³ Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
⁴ Research Department, PSYTREC, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
⁵ School of Health Sciences, Salford University, Manchester, UK.
⁶ Institute of Health and Society, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK.
⁷ School of Psychology, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Up to 33% of women develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a traumatic birth experience. Negative and traumatic childbirth experiences can also lead to fear of childbirth, avoiding or negatively influencing a subsequent pregnancy, mother-infant bonding problems, problems with breastfeeding, depression and reduced quality of life. For PTSD in general, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has proven to be effective. However, little is known about the preventive effects of early intervention EMDR therapy in women after a traumatic birth experience. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of early intervention EMDR therapy in preventing PTSD and reducing PTSD symptoms in women with a traumatic birth experience.

Methods: The PERCEIVE study is a randomized controlled trial. Women suffering from the consequences of a traumatic birth experience will be randomly allocated at maximum 14 days postpartum to either EMDR therapy or 'care-as-usual'. Patients in the EMDR group receive two sessions of therapy between 14 (T0) and 35 days postpartum. All participants will be assessed at T0 and at 9 weeks postpartum (T1). At T1, all participants will undergo a CAPS-5 interview about the presence and severity of PTSD symptoms. The primary outcome measure is the severity of PTSD symptoms, whereas the secondary outcomes pertain to fear of childbirth, mother-infant bonding, breastfeeding, depression and quality of life. The study will be conducted at a large city hospital and at multiple midwifery practices in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Discussion: It is to be expected that the results of this study will provide more insight about the safety and effectiveness of early intervention EMDR therapy in the prevention and reduction of PTSD (symptoms) in women with a traumatic birth experience.

Trial registration: Netherlands Trial Register NL73231.000.20 . Registered on 21 August 2020.

Keywords: Childbirth; Delivery; EMDR; Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy; Obstetrics; PTSD; Postpartum; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Trauma.

Publication types

Clinical Trial Protocol

MeSH terms

Anxiety
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing*
Female
Humans
Postpartum Period
Quality of Life
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / diagnosis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / therapy
Treatment Outcome

Grants and funding

€50.000/Stichting Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek OLVG