Protocol of a French assessor-blinded randomized trial comparing eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) in young children with post-traumatic stress disorder

Context Young children with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) require interventions tailored to their unique trauma reactions and their cognitive, social, and emotional development. While both EMDR therapy and TF-CBT are highly recommended for PTSD treatment and seem developmentally appropriate for early childhood, neither is yet evidence-based for children under 6 years with PTSD, and EMDR has not been evaluated in this population through a randomized group comparison. Objective To describe the design of a French assessor-blinded randomized trial comparing EMDR and TF-CBT efficacy in young children (aged 3 to 6 years) with PTSD, which notably considers both the child's level of cognitive development and parental symptomatology in addition to the child's symptoms. Method This study includes children aged 3 to 6 years and 11 months with a diagnosis of PTSD and no other specific pathological condition. After recruitment, the study takes place in three stages: 1/ assessment of the child’s various cognitive functions and symptomatology, and the parents’ distress and PTSD; 2/ either EMDR or TF-CBT treatment is administered over 6 to 12 sessions; 3/ reassessment of the symptomatology (at end of treatment and three months later). Discussion This paper describes the study design of the first assessor-blinded randomized trial comparing EMDR therapy and TF-CBT in French children aged 3 to 6 years. The findings of this study, once completed, may offer support for the efficacy of EMDR and TF-CBT, potentially paving the way for future recommendations in the treatment of PTSD in young children.