The Effect of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing on Pain Intensity in Cancer Patients (24-Month Follow-Up)

Managing pain and mental distress in cancer patients is one of the main priorities of care. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine and evaluate the effect of desensitization with eye movements and reprocessing on pain intensity in cancer patients with 24-month follow-up.

The present clinical trial study was conducted on cancer patients suffering from pain at Shahid Jalil Hospital, Yasuj, in 2019. A total of 60 patients were selected by convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control based on the allocation of random blocks and in parallel. In the intervention group, the technique of desensitization with eye movements and reprocessing in 7 one-hour sessions daily (one session per day) was held individually in the counseling room. In the control group, no intervention was performed by the researcher and they received only routine hospital treatment and care. The severity of pain and mental distress of patients before the intervention, after the intervention and at 24-month follow-up in both groups was measured by the pain rating scale and the mental distress scale. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, independent t-test and analysis of variance using SPSS 24 software.

Analysis of variance with repeated measures disclosed that the mean pain intensity in the intervention group, before, after the intervention and at 24-month follow-up were 0.73±9.46, 1.51±3/03 and 1.23±5.66 respectively which had a statistically significant decrease (p<0.0001). Moreover, mental distress in patients in the intervention group before and after the intervention, and at 24-month follow-up, respectively; 0.56±9.76, 1.52±3.26 and 1.62±6.61 which had a statistically significant decrease(p<0.0001). In the control group, using repeated measures analysis of variance, the mean pain intensity and mental distress before, after, and 24-month follow-up were not statistically significant(p> 0.05).

The results indicated that the method of desensitization with eye movements and reprocessing was effective in reducing pain in cancer patients and its effect was still lasting after 24 months of follow-up. Therefore, it is recommended to use this new and effective method in reducing pain in cancer patients.