Improving Infant Mental Health: A Pilot Study on the Effectiveness, Acceptability and Feasibility of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Storytelling in Infants With Post-traumatic Distress After Medical Procedures.

Abstract

Although the prevalence of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in infants and young children is similar as in older age groups, and PTSD intervention is as important in this age group, research on PTSD-treatment in infants is very scarce. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Storytelling is a trauma-focused treatment that is being used by clinicians for infants with PTSD-symptoms. The aim was to assess the feasibility, acceptability and initial indications of effectiveness of EMDR Storytelling for infants aged 3-24 months with PTSD-symptoms after medical procedures. We included 6 infants and administered personalized items to assess PTSD-symptoms during the baseline, intervention and follow-up phase on a day-to-day basis. Furthermore, we measured PTSD-classification and symptoms at three and four measurement points, respectively. The data was analysed visually and quantitatively. EMDR Storytelling was shown to be feasible and acceptable for all participating families. Parent- and therapist-report showed that four out of the six infants included in the current study showed a clear reduction over time in PTSD-classification, -symptoms, and daily measured PTSD-symptoms. The results concerning the other two infants were mixed. Attention should be paid to cognitive (language) as well as interactional (infant-parent) mechanisms potentially underlying the benefits of EMDR Storytelling.