PTSDNCT06955845

Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Versus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

A study testing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy and Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in people with PTSD and PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, run by Asad Ullah Jan at 2 sites in Pakistan.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record

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Trial summary

Who is it for?: Ages 18 to 60 years
Conditions the study is for: PTSD, PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
What is being tested?: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy and Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Type of treatment: Lifestyle or therapy programme
Could I receive a placebo?: No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people: 60 participants
Where: 2 sitesPakistan
Study dates: 6 May 2025to 31 Dec 2025
Phase: Interventional
Are there results?: None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

Ages 18 to 60 years
All sexes
No healthy volunteers
Adult

Who may be able to join

Age 18-60 years
Clinical diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Duration of illness ≥ 6 months
Able to provide informed consent

Who cannot join

Current substance abuse or dependence
History of psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder
Active suicidal ideation
Concurrent psychotherapy or psychiatric medication (except study-assigned SSRI)

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

Pakistan2 sites

Combined Military Hospital
Nowshera, KPK, 25770
Department of Psychiatry, Combined Military Hospital Nowshera
Nowshera, Kpk, 25770

Other trials in Pakistan

About this study

Official title: Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Versus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy versus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Adult patients diagnosed with PTSD will be randomly assigned to receive either EMDR therapy or SSRIs for a period of six weeks. The primary outcome is the rate of remission as measured by validated PTSD symptom severity scales at Week 6. Secondary outcomes include changes in functional impairment and patient-reported quality of life. The study seeks to determine whether EMDR therapy is a non-pharmacological alternative to SSRIs for achieving symptom remission in PTSD.

Conditions: PTSD, PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Being tested: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Keywords: PTSD, EMDR, SSRIs, Trauma, Mental Health, Randomized controlled trial, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Medical subject headings: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Combat Disorders, Wounds and Injuries, Psychological Well-Being

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing TherapyBehavioural
Also called EMDR Therapy
Patients in this arm will receive weekly EMDR sessions for 6 weeks
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitorsDrug
The patients will receive an SSRI medication daily for 6 weeks. The dose will be titrated by the clinician.

Study groups in NCT06955845
Study group	Role	What they receive
EMDR Therapy	Experimental	Participants will receive Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy over six weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)Treatment	Active comparator	Participants will receive selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Sertraline over six weeks. Receives: Drug: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

Remission rate at Week 6
Each group's proportion of participants achieving remission from PTSD is defined as having a score below 22 on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5; range 0-80, where higher scores indicate worse PTSD symptoms), a validated PTSD scale.
Measured: 6 weeks

Secondary outcomes (1)

Change in functional impairment score
Change from baseline to 6 weeks in functional impairment as measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF; range 26-130, higher scores = better quality of life), a validated quality of life scale.
Measured: 6 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

6 May 202531 Dec 2025

First posted2 May 2025
Study start6 May 2025
Primary completion30 Nov 2025
Study completion31 Dec 2025

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Other trials for PTSDStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase N/A
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: Single blind
Who is masked: Outcomes assessor
Enrolment: 60 participants (actual)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06955845
Sponsor's protocol ID: CMHNSR-REF-14
Status last verified: May 2026
First submitted: 25 Apr 2025
Last updated: 7 May 2026
Results posted: No
Data monitoring committee: No
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No
Individual data sharing: No: No plans to share IPD at this time.

Want to know more?

The sponsor has not listed a contact. The official record may have more details.

Talk to your doctor first and take this page with you. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

Questions to ask the study team

What is the study trying to find out?
What would I need to do, and how often would I visit?
Could I receive a placebo instead of the treatment?
What are the possible risks and benefits for me?
Will it cost me anything? Are travel or time paid for?
Can I keep seeing my own doctor during the study?
What happens when the study ends?

See locations

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All PTSD trials

Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Versus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06955845
Acronym / sponsor ID: CMHNSR-REF-14
Conditions: PTSD, PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Keywords: PTSD, EMDR, SSRIs, Trauma, Mental Health, Randomized controlled trial, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Study type: Interventional
Recruitment status: Completed
Enrolment: 60 participants (actual)
Lead sponsor: Asad Ullah JanOther government
Study start: 6 May 2025 (actual)
Primary completion: 30 Nov 2025 (actual)
Study completion: 31 Dec 2025 (actual)
First posted: 2 May 2025 (actual)
Results: Not posted in the source record

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

Study design

Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: Single blind (outcomes assessor)
Number of arms: 2

Arm	Type	Receives
EMDR Therapy	Experimental	Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing TherapyParticipants will receive Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy over six weeks.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)Treatment	Active comparator	Drug: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitorsParticipants will receive selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Sertraline over six weeks.

Who may qualify

Ages: 18 to 60 years
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Not accepted
Age groups: Adult

Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)

Age 18-60 years
Clinical diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Duration of illness ≥ 6 months
Able to provide informed consent

Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)

Current substance abuse or dependence
History of psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder
Active suicidal ideation
Concurrent psychotherapy or psychiatric medication (except study-assigned SSRI)

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Interventions

Intervention	Type	Arms
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing TherapyAlso: EMDR TherapyPatients in this arm will receive weekly EMDR sessions for 6 weeks	Behavioural	EMDR Therapy
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitorsThe patients will receive an SSRI medication daily for 6 weeks. The dose will be titrated by the clinician.	Drug	Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)Treatment

Primary outcome

Remission rate at Week 6
Time frame: 6 weeks
Each group's proportion of participants achieving remission from PTSD is defined as having a score below 22 on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5; range 0-80, where higher scores indicate worse PTSD symptoms), a validated PTSD scale.

1 secondary outcome

Change in functional impairment score
Time frame: 6 weeks

Results and safety

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 May 2026.
Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. No plans to share IPD at this time.

Related trials for PTSD

Active, not recruiting
TMS-fNIRS Personalized Dosing
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury
Enrolling by invitation
Brief Prolonged Exposure Therapy Versus Clinical Standard to Reduce Posttraumatic Stress Post Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord Injuries, PTSD
Not yet recruitingObservational study
The Effects of Extreme Prematurity on Parenting
Depression Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
RecruitingPhase 4
The Effects of Orexin Antagonism on Fear Extinction in PTSD
Insomnia, PTSD
Not yet recruiting
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Referral and contact

AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.

Asad Ullah Jan, MBBS,FCPS principal investigator

CMH Nowshera

2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Remission rate at Week 6 (time frame: 6 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06955845.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 May 2026.