Implementing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in the treatment of Methotrexate Intolerance in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Hoefel, L, Eppler, B, Schnoebel-Mueller, E, Haas, JP, Huegle, B

 

Submission type

Poster only

Scheduled

Poster, Beurs van Berlage , Grote Zaal

Kernwoorden

EMDR, Methotrexate, Intolerance, QOL

Onderzoeksgebied

Novel (therapeutic) approaches

Introductie

The objective of this study was to investigate effectiveness of EMDR in the treatment of Methotrexate (MTX) intolerance in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Materiaal en methodes

An open prospective study on consecutive JIA patients with MTX intolerance was performed. Intolerance was determined using the Methotrexate Intolerance Severity Score (MISS) questionnaire prior to treatment, directly after treatment and after four months. Health-related quality of life was determined using the PedsQL prior to and 4 months after treatment. Patients were treated using an adapted institutional EMDR protocol.

Resultaten

12 patients with MTX intolerance (median MISS at inclusion 17, IQR = 10.5 – 20.5) were included. Directly after treatment, MTX intolerance symptoms were significantly improved (median MISS 1 (IQR = 0 – 2). After four months, median MISS score was still 5 (IQR = 1.5 – 11, p=0.003), with 5/12 patients showing MISS scores ≥ 6. Health related quality of life improved significantly from median PedsQL 76.1% to 87.0% after 4 months (p=0.018).

Conclusie

MTX intolerance in children with JIA was effectively treated using an EMDR protocol, with lasting effect over a period of 4 months. EMDR treatment can potentially increase quality of life of affected patients and enable continuation of treatment with MTX.

Auteurs