Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42773467›Full record

SynthesisBMC psychology2026

The immediate and follow-up effects of EMDR therapy for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Han Yang, Zhiheng Xiong, Xiangxiang Chen, Yijing Wo, Hao Tang, Mengxuan Qiao, Yu Chen, Zhilin Wang

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Han Yang *Faculty of Health and Wellness, City University of Macau, Macau, China.
Zhiheng Xiong *School of Humanities, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
Xiangxiang ChenDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Yijing WoTaobao (China) Software Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, China.
Hao TangDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Mengxuan QiaoSchool of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Yu ChenDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China. yuchen1027@njmu.edu.cn.
Zhilin WangMental Health Education and Research Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. zlwang@njmu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is recommended as an effective psychotherapy for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Prior meta-analyses lacked follow-up data or data on comorbid symptoms, and exhibited high heterogeneity. The aims of this meta-analysis were to investigate the immediate and follow-up effects of EMDR on adult patients with PTSD, especially those with comorbid anxiety and depression.

methodsSixty-five studies (including 3342 participants) were analyzed to assess intervention effects and moderating factors such as trauma type, control group type, geography, early intervention, and intervention duration.

resultsThis study found that EMDR approach has immediate and follow-up effects on PTSD, with sustained effects at follow-up. It also has an immediate effect on anxiety and depression. Some factors like control group type, trauma type, moderated the immediate effects on PTSD, while for depression, factors like early intervention and number of sessions had moderating effects.

conclusionEMDR is an effective intervention for adults with PTSD, with sustained effects and additional benefits for anxiety and depression. Early, brief EMDR shows superior efficacy. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Trial registration PROSPERO registration number: CRD420251012356.

Indexed as

Eye Movement Desensitization ReprocessingStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticAdultFollow-Up StudiesHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeAdultsEMDRMeta-analysisPost-traumatic stress disorderTrauma

Identifiers

PMID42773467
PMCPMC13599145

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.