The effect of cognitive behavioural therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing techniques on infertile women: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Research questionWhat is the effect of training programs based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) techniques applied to infertile women on infertility, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychological development? DesignThis randomized controlled study was conducted between May 2021 and August 2022 using a total of 90 infertile women (30 CBT, 30 EMDR, 30 Control) who referred to the in vitro fertilization unit of a hospital in a province in eastern Turkey. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS), the Validity of Cognition (VoC), the Infertility Distress Scale (IDS), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Women in the experimental groups (CBT and EMDR) received the intervention in 6 sessions over 3 weeks. Pre-tests were administered to both experimental and control groups, and post-tests were conducted 3 weeks after the intervention. ResultsThe SUDS, IDS and IES-R mean scores of women in the experimental groups decreased significantly compared to that of those in the control group after the CBT and EMDR interventions (p<0.05). The VoC and PTGI mean scores of women in the experimental groups significantly increased compared to that of those in the control group after the interventions (p<0.05). ConclusionIt was determined that CBT and EMDR technique applied to infertile women reduced the levels of infertility effects.