EMDR vs. pills: which works better for PTSD?

NCT ID NCT06955845

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Asad Ullah Jan Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

combat disorder injury post-traumatic stress disorder Psychological Well-Being

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

PTSD PTSD - POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Combined Military Hospital

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

Nowshera, Kpk, 25770, Pakistan

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