Fluoxetine vs EMDR to Treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2003-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The purpose of this study is to compare two treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD): fluoxetine (an antidepressant) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
(EMDR, a psychological treatment in which the patient is led through the memory of a
traumatic experience in order to heal him/herself).
There are a variety of therapies used to treat PTSD, but the effectiveness of medication
alone vs an exposure treatment, such as EMDR, has not been tested.
Patients will be assigned randomly (like tossing a coin) to one of three groups for 8 weeks
of treatment. Group 1 will receive fluoxetine; Group 2 will receive EMDR; and Group 3 will
receive inactive placebo. Patients will then stop treatment and have evaluations, including
psychological tests, at the time treatment is stopped, 8 weeks later, and at 6 months.
An individual may be eligible for this study if he/she:
Has PTSD and is 18 to 65 years old.