The effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing on the cognitive function of patients with myocardial infarction

Considering the high prevalence of myocardial infarction and the presence of cognitive problems in these patients, it is necessary to carry out effective interventions to improve their cognitive function and mental processes. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of desensitization with eye movements and reprocessing on the cognitive function of patients with myocardial infarction.

The present clinical-trial study was conducted in 2020-2021 on 60 patients with myocardial infarction in medical centers of Yasuj, Iran. Patients were randomly divided into two control and intervention groups. Patients in the intervention group received 6 individual 60-minute EMDR sessions over 2 weeks. Patients in the control group received only routine care. Information was collected using a demographic information questionnaire before the intervention and Fulstein's cognitive function before and after the intervention in two groups. Data analysis was done by SPSS V.21.0 software and descriptive (mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage) and inferential (multivariate covariance analysis and independent t) statistics.

The majority of patients were male (66.7%) and were in the age range of 51-60 years. After the implementation of EMDR, the average score of the total cognitive function and all its subscales in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (p<0.001). After adjusting the post-test scores by removing the pre-test effect, it was revealed that the intervention had a significant effect on strengthening cognitive performance (F=440/48, p<0/001, partial η2 = 0/889).

Considering the positive effect of EMDR therapeutic intervention on the cognitive performance of patients with myocardial infarction in the present study, it is possible to take an effective step by integrating this type of therapeutic intervention in routine care to strengthen the cognitive performance of these patients.