Tests EMDR therapy to reduce pain problems in children with sickle cell disease
Tests EMDR, a trauma therapy, in children with sickle cell disease and chronic pain.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Effect of EMDR for Reduction of Pain Interference in Children With Sickle Cell Disease
Key facts
- Where
- Amsterdam, NetherlandsSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for children and teenagers with sickle cell disease who have a lot of pain that gets in the way of daily life. It tests a trauma therapy called EMDR.
- Age
- 6 to 18 years
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Sickle cell disease with high pain interference: a PROMIS Pain Interference T-score above 49 (parent report for ages 6-7, self-report from age 8).
- Earlier treatment
- Cannot have had a successful stem cell transplant. Cannot be getting psychological (trauma) treatment from another therapist at the same time.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Successful stem cell transplant in the past
- Pregnant teenagers
- Current unsafe situation that could get in the way of therapy, such as ongoing domestic violence
- Serious acute medical or psychiatric problem needing immediate treatment, such as psychosis, substance dependence, severe self-harm or high suicide risk
- Estimated IQ below 80
Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 6 and 18 years old?
Source: NCT07001631, who can take part
Where in Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMCAmsterdam, NetherlandsTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)
- Trial code
- NCT07001631
- Record updated
- 3 June 2025
- Original description
Children with sickle cell disease may experience frequent painful episodes. This, together with the traumatic experiences during a hospitalization, can lead to the development of posttraumatic stress reactions. As the stress can trigger painful episodes (pain crisis) in children with sickle cell disease, the investigators think that treating these stress symptoms can reduce the pain-related problems in their lives. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is proven to be an effective trauma treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder. Research studies show that EMDR can reduce pain in adults. The investigators want to study now if EMDR effective is in reducing pain-related problems in children with sickle cell disease.Read full original descriptionShow less
Effect of EMDR for Reduction of Pain Interference in Children With Sickle Cell Disease
Children with sickle cell disease may experience frequent painful episodes. This, together with the traumatic experiences during a hospitalization, can lead to the development of posttraumatic stress reactions. As the stress can trigger painful episodes (pain crisis) in children with sickle cell disease, the investigators think that treating these stress symptoms can reduce the pain-related problems in their lives. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is proven to be an effective trauma treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder. Research studies show that EMDR can reduce pain in adults. The investigators want to study now if EMDR effective is in reducing pain-related problems in children with sickle cell disease.
Inclusion: Medical diagnosis of SCD; Age between 6 and 18 years old; Elevated pain interference scores: Reporting above the clinical cut-off T-score of 49 on PROMIS Pain Interference (parent-proxy version for children from 6-7 years and self-report version for children from 8 years); Having sufficient knowledge of the Dutch or English languages to complete the assessments.
Exclusion: Undergone successful stem cell transplantation; Current unsafety that is likely to interfere with psychological therapy for example ongoing domestic violence; Receiving psychological (trauma) treatment by another therapist at the same time; Major interfering acute medical or psychiatric condition, such as psychosis, substance dependence, current severe self-harm or high risk for suicide requiring immediate treatment; Pregnant adolescents; IQ estimated to be < 80 based on information contained in the medical history or information from educational services/school.