Can eye movements heal trauma after a heart attack?
NCT ID NCT04672551
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether EMDR, a therapy that uses guided eye movements, can help people with PTSD caused by a heart attack. Sixty adults who had a heart attack and developed PTSD will receive eight weekly EMDR sessions. The goal is to see if EMDR reduces PTSD symptoms and might also lower the risk of future heart problems.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- EMDR therapy (a type of talk therapy using eye movements)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could provide an effective first-line treatment for PTSD after a heart attack, potentially improving both mental and heart health.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early trial with only 60 people, so results may not apply to everyone. EMDR may not reduce PTSD symptoms more than standard care, and benefits for heart health are speculative.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University Hospital Zurich
RECRUITINGZurich, Switzerland
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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