Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing on Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Adults
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing on Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Adults
The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether Eye Movement Desensitization and
 Reprocessing (EMDR) is effective in decreasing the level of autoantibodies of patients with
 autoimmune thyroiditis. The investigators hypothesize that processing traumatic memories from
 events that happened before the illness onset will have a positive impact first on the psyche
 (a) by decreasing the level of dissociation, alexithymia, anger, and (b) by increasing the
 quality of life and emotional regulation, than those in the control group. Secondly, it will
 have an impact on the biological level, by decreasing the level of autoantibodies,
 antithyroglobulin antibody (anti-Tg) and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO), which
 are the main antibodies detected in chronic autoimmune thyroiditis.
Hashimoto thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that leads to chronic inflammation of the
 thyroid gland. This is considered the most common autoimmune disorder, and the most common
 endocrine disorder. Psychological trauma has been suggested as a possible factor in the
 pathogenesis and development of autoimmune diseases. Although a diversity of
 psychotherapeutic interventions have been studied in adults with autoimmune diseases, there
 is a lack of psychological research and randomized controlled trials in the field of the
 Hashimoto disease.

 This study is designed to be a clinical trial with three arms: one experimental and two
 control groups. The experimental group receives EMDR, one control group receive placebo and
 the other is a waiting list. 90 out-patients with Hashimoto disease will be randomly assigned
 to the three groups. The investigators hypothesize that the therapeutic gains will be more
 significant in the experimental condition than in the control groups at the completion of the
 therapy and that this will be maintained at the 3-month follow-up.The EMDR group undergoes a
 90 minutes session of EMDR each week for twelve weeks.The sessions will be conducted by
 clinicians or psychotherapists specialized in EMDR. The placebo group will receive a similar
 amount of time of placebo intervention. If therapy is efficient on the autoimmune disorder,
 participants in the control groups will be reallocated to EMDR after the experimental
 treatment will come to an end.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  aged 18-55 years;

 -  confirmed autoimmune thyroiditis diagnosis

 -  at least one biological marker Anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies or
 thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) exceeds the reference range

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  the presence of psychotic symptoms

 -  currently receiving another form of psychological treatment;

 -  under psychotropic medication;

 -  neurodevelopmental disorders (intellectual disability, communication disorders, autism
 spectrum disorders, ADHD);

 -  neurocognitive disorders;

 -  substance abuse;

 -  serious legal or health issues that would prevent from regularly attending

 -  patients with autoimmune thyroiditis with biological markers within the reference
 range