De effectiviteit van EMDR 2.0 wordt ondersteund door casestudies (bijv. De Jongh & Hafkemeijer, 2024; Matthijssen & Menses, 2024), een gerandomiseerde experimentele studie (Matthijssen et al., 2021) en door klinische uitkomststudies, zowel ongecontroleerde studies onder veteranen (Reij et al., 2025), adolescenten met PTSS (Rentinck et al., 2025) en volwassenen met PTSS (Van der Linde et al., 2023; Van Woudenberg et al., 2023; Matthijssen et al., 2024), borderline persoonlijkheidsstoornis (Kolthof et al., 2022), door gerandomiseerde uitkomststudies op het gebied van PTSS (Alting van Geusau et al., in voorbereiding; Yassar et al., 2024 & 2025) en persoonlijkheidsstoornissen. met en zonder PTSS (Hofman et al., ter publicatie aangeboden). Bovendien is er wetenschappelijke ondersteuning voor de toepassing van EMDR 2.0 via teletherapie (Ellenbroek et al., 2024; Yassar et al., 2024 & 2025) en groepstherapie (Matthijssen & Menses, 2024; Yassar et al., 2024 & 2025). Zie de bijlage met een beschrijving van alle 13 studies.
- The effect of EMDR versus EMDR 2.0 on emotionality and vividness of aversive memories in a non-clinical sample (Matthijssen et al., 2021)
In a randomized controlled study 62 non-clinical participants with disturbing autobiographical memories were treated with either standard EMDR therapy or the adapted EMDR 2.0 protocol. Both interventions led to significant and lasting reductions in emotionality and vividness of the memories, measured immediately after treatment and at one- and four-week follow-ups. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of efficacy. Regarding efficiency, participants in the EMDR 2.0 condition required significantly fewer desensitization sets than those in the standard EMDR group to achieve the same therapeutic effects. Despite this, session duration was comparable between the two groups. Hence, EMDR 2.0 proved equally effective but potentially more efficient than standard EMDR, as it requires fewer working memory taxation sets. Further research in clinical populations is recommended to explore its added value.
- The role of dissociation-related beliefs about memory in trauma-focused treatment (Van der Linde et al., 2023)
This study investigated whether dissociation-related beliefs about memory (e.g., beliefs that traumatic memories are too overwhelming or dangerous to access) affect treatment outcomes in individuals undergoing prolonged exposure and EMDR 2.0. A sample of 71 patients with PTSD completed self-report measures before and after treatment, including assessments of dissociation-related beliefs. The results showed that stronger dissociation-related beliefs at baseline were significantly associated with smaller reductions in PTSD symptoms after treatment. These beliefs predicted treatment outcome beyond general dissociative symptoms and baseline PTSD severity. Importantly, the beliefs themselves decreased significantly during treatment, and reductions in these beliefs were associated with greater symptom improvement. Hence, addressing and challenging these beliefs may enhance the effectiveness of TFT.
- Effects of intensive trauma-focused treatment of individuals with both post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder (Kolthof et al., 2022)
This study examined the effectiveness and safety of intensive trauma-focused treatment for individuals diagnosed with both PTSD and borderline personality pathology. A total of 47 participants underwent an eight-day treatment program consisting of EMDR 2.0 prolonged exposure, psychoeducation, and physical activities, all delivered without a preceding stabilization phase. The findings demonstrated significant reductions in both PTSD and borderline symptoms immediately post-treatment, with these improvements maintained at the three-month follow-up. No symptom deterioration was observed, and the dropout rate was low (6.4%). Furthermore, 51.1% of participants no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD following treatment. The results showed that intensive trauma-focused treatment without prior stabilization was both effective and safe for individuals with comorbid PTSD and borderline personality features. These findings challenge the commonly held belief that stabilization is a necessary prerequisite in this population.
- The impact of intensive trauma-focused treatment on sexual functioning in individuals with PTSD (Van Woudenberg et al., 2023).
This study investigated whether an intensive trauma-focused treatment program consisting of daily EMDR 2.0 and prolonged exposure therapy could improve sexual functioning in individuals with PTSD, a symptom domain often neglected in trauma treatment research. A total of 227 participants completed this eight-day program, supported by physical activity and psychoeducation, with no preceding stabilization phase. The results showed a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms, as well as a moderate but significant improvement in overall sexual functioning from pre- to post-treatment. These improvements were maintained at the six-month follow-up. Notably, changes in sexual functioning were significantly associated with reductions in PTSD symptoms, suggesting a meaningful clinical relationship. These findings highlight the relevance of addressing sexual health in trauma recovery and suggest that such improvements can occur without specific interventions targeting sexuality.
- The Effectiveness of Online EMDR 2.0 Group Protocol on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Individuals Who Have Experienced a Traffic Accident: A Preliminary Study (Yassar et al., 2023).
This pilot study examined the feasibility and effectiveness of the Online EMDR 2.0 Group Protocol for adults with PTSD symptoms following the 2023 earthquakes in Turkey. A total of 33 participants received four 90-minute online group EMDR 2.0 sessions over one week. The intervention was designed for rapid deployment in the aftermath of collective trauma, using a fully remote, video-conferencing format. Participants reported significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, distress, and functional impairment immediately after the intervention. These improvements were maintained at one-month follow-up. Nearly half of the participants no longer met the threshold for probable PTSD post-treatment. The protocol was well received, with high attendance, no adverse effects, and strong participant satisfaction. This study offers promising evidence that brief, remote EMDR 2.0 group interventions may be a practical and effective option for early response in disaster settings. It highlights the potential for scalable, trauma-focused care, even in low-resource and high-stress contexts.
- Case report: Intensive online trauma treatment combining prolonged exposure and EMDR 2.0 in a patient with severe and chronic PTSD (Matthijssen & Menses, 2024)
A woman with chronic and severe PTSD, stemming from a history of complex childhood trauma, underwent an innovative six-day online treatment program combining Prolonged Exposure (PE) and EMDR 2.0. Each day included structured components: PE, physical exercise, EMDR 2.0 using a digital tool, and psychoeducation. Despite significant comorbidity—including depression, panic disorder, and personality disorder traits—she completed the program without any adverse effects. The results were striking: all PTSD symptoms remitted and remained absent at six-month follow-up. Additionally, her depressive and general psychiatric symptoms dropped from severe to minimal levels. This case demonstrates the feasibility and potential effectiveness of fully remote, intensive trauma treatment, even in patients with complex clinical presentations. It opens new doors for care delivery in situations where in-person therapy is not possible or preferred.
- The effects of an intensive outpatient treatment for PTSD (Matthijssen et al., 2024)
This study evaluated the outcomes of an intensive, trauma-focused outpatient treatment program for adults with PTSD in routine clinical care. A total of 234 participants, many of whom had experienced multiple interpersonal traumas and had complex comorbidities, completed an eight-day treatment course. The program combined daily EMDR 2.0 and prolonged exposure therapy with physical activity and psychoeducation, without any preparatory stabilization phase. PTSD symptoms decreased significantly across the sample, with large effect sizes, and these improvements were maintained at three-month follow-up. Over half of the participants no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD after treatment. Importantly, the dropout rate was low, and no symptom worsening was observed, even among patients with a history of childhood trauma or personality disorders. These findings demonstrate that trauma-focused therapy can be delivered safely and effectively in an intensive, short-term format, even in real-world clinical settings and for complex cases.
- The effectiveness of a remote intensive trauma-focused treatment programme for PTSD (Ellenbroek et al., 2024)
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a fully remote, intensive trauma-focused treatment program for adults with PTSD, delivered entirely via videoconferencing. A total of 73 participants received daily sessions of Prolonged Exposure and EMDR 2.0, along with physical activity and psychoeducation, over the course of eight days. The program was modeled after established in-person intensive treatment formats but adapted for remote delivery, without any pre-treatment stabilization phase.
The outcomes were strong: participants showed large reductions in PTSD symptoms from pre- to post-treatment, and these improvements were maintained at three-month follow-up. Over 60% of participants no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD after treatment. The intervention was well tolerated, with low dropout rates and no symptom deterioration, even in individuals with complex trauma histories and comorbid conditions.
These findings suggest that intensive trauma-focused therapy that combines exposure and EMDR 2.0 therapy can be delivered safely and effectively online, offering a promising solution for clients unable or unwilling to access in-person care.
- Effectiveness of an intensive outpatient treatment programme combining prolonged exposure and EMDR therapy for adolescents and young adults with PTSD in a naturalistic setting (Rentinck et al., 2025).
This study assessed the effectiveness of an intensive trauma-focused outpatient treatment program for adolescents with PTSD, incorporating both prolonged exposure and EMDR 2.0 therapy over an eight-day period. The sample included 48 adolescents aged 12–18 years, many of whom had experienced multiple interpersonal traumas and presented with complex clinical profiles. The results showed large and statistically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms immediately following treatment, which were maintained at three-month follow-up. At post-treatment, 62.5% of participants no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Additionally, the treatment was well tolerated, with low dropout and no evidence of symptom worsening, even among those with high initial symptom severity or comorbidities. The results support the notion that intensive trauma-focused treatment combining prolonged exposure and EMDR 2.0 therapy is both feasible and highly effective for adolescents with PTSD, including those with complex trauma histories.
- PTSD Symptoms change in response to a brief intensive trauma-focused treatment programme in non-veterans and veterans with war-related PTSD (Reij et al., 2025).
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a brief intensive trauma-focused treatment programme with war-related PTSD, comparing outcomes between veterans and non-veterans. The treatment consisted of eight consecutive days of daily prolonged exposure and EMDR 2.0 therapy, combined with physical activity and psychoeducation. Results indicated significant reductions in PTSD symptoms for both groups, with large effect sizes observed post-treatment and at three-month follow-up. Although non-veterans showed slightly greater symptom reduction, veterans also demonstrated substantial clinical improvement. Importantly, symptom deterioration was rare, and treatment dropout was minimal. These findings support the feasibility of condensed therapeutic formats in this population, including those with complex trauma histories.
- The effectiveness of online Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing 2.0 Group Protocol on post-traumatic stress disorders symptoms, depression, anxiety, and stress in individuals who have experienced a traffic accident: a randomized-controlled study (Yassar et al., 2025).
This study randomized controlled trial investigated whether EMDR 2.0can be delivered effectively in a group format and entirely online. In the study, 41 adults with PTSD symptoms related to a recent earthquake were randomly assigned to either an online EMDR 2.0 Group Protocol or a waitlist control condition. The group intervention consisted of four 90-minute online sessions delivered over one week. The results were promising: participants in the EMDR 2.0 group showed significantly greater reductions in PTSD symptoms compared to the control group, with large effect sizes. These gains were maintained at four-week follow-up. Notably, more than 60% of participants in the intervention group no longer met criteria for probable PTSD after treatment. The protocol was well tolerated, with high attendance and no adverse events. This study provides preliminary but encouraging evidence that brief, online group-based EMDR 2.0 can be an effective and scalable intervention in the aftermath of mass trauma. It opens up new possibilities for rapid, remote mental health support in disaster-affected regions.
- Effectiveness of EMDR therapy on symptoms and diagnostic status of personality disorders: a multicenter randomized controlled trial (Hofman et al., in press)
A recently completed multicenter randomized controlled trial investigated whether EMDR 2.0 therapy can reduce symptoms of personality disorders, even in the absence of PTSD. In this study, 159 individuals with a DSM-5 personality disorder diagnosis received ten EMDR 2.0 sessions over a period of five weeks. The results were striking in that participants in the EMDR 2.0 condition showed significantly greater reductions in symptom severity compared to those on a waiting list, and nearly half no longer met diagnostic criteria for a personality disorder at three-month follow-up. Improvements were also observed in personality functioning and emotion regulation, and these effects were consistent across different types of personality disorders, including borderline and avoidant personality disorder. Importantly, the treatment was well tolerated, with a low dropout rate and no adverse events. These findings suggest that trauma-focused EMDR 2.0 therapy may offer an effective and efficient short-term intervention for individuals with personality disorders, even when PTSD is not present. The study challenges the prevailing assumption that long-term, insight-oriented treatment is always necessary in this population, and opens the door to new, modular approaches to care.
- The relationship between changes in emotional intensity and treatment outcome in PTSD patients in EMDR therapy (Alting van Geusau et al., 2025)
This study examined whether changes in emotional intensity during EMDR therapy predicted treatment outcome in 125 patients with PTSD following multiple traumatization. The intensive program included six EMDR sessions, delivered using EMDR 2.0, which applies higher working memory load than standard EMDR. Results showed that greater reductions in emotional intensity (measured by Subjective Units of Disturbance, SUD) were significantly associated with stronger decreases in PTSD symptoms at four-week follow-up. The number of traumatic images fully desensitized to a SUD score of zero emerged as the strongest predictor of treatment success, while age, gender, and dissociative PTSD subtype were not predictive. These findings highlight the clinical importance of monitoring changes in emotional intensity during EMDR 2.0 as an indicator of therapeutic progress and outcome
