EMDR vs. pills: which works better for PTSD?
NCT ID NCT06955845
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This completed study tested two common PTSD treatments head-to-head: EMDR therapy (a talking therapy with eye movements) and SSRI antidepressants. Sixty adults with PTSD were randomly assigned to one treatment for six weeks. Researchers measured how many people achieved symptom remission and whether their quality of life improved.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
What this could lead to
If EMDR proves as effective as SSRIs, it could offer a drug-free option for managing PTSD symptoms.
What could go wrong
This is a small, single-site trial with only 60 participants over 6 weeks, so results may not apply broadly. Both treatments have known limitations and side effects.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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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
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Locations
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Combined Military Hospital
Nowshera, KPK, 25770, Pakistan
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Department of Psychiatry, Combined Military Hospital Nowshera
Nowshera, Kpk, 25770, Pakistan