References for Podcast 4 EMDR and Perinatal Health November 2025

This blog posting provides the complete reference list for studies mentioned in the fourth episode of EMDR The Science Behind the Therapy — "EMDR and Perinatal Health". In this podcast we explore a topic suggested by a listener, the role of EMDR therapy in perinatal health and the treatment of birth-related anxiety and PTSD. The context for this episode emerges from two intersecting themes. The first theme involves early cautions about the use of EMDR therapy during pregnancy and the second theme is the dramatic increase in the number of treatment outcome studies and research reviews on EMDR and pregnancy that provide more up-to-date guidance for EMDR trained clinicians.




References


Appelman-Dijkstra, N. M., Ertl, D.-A., Zillikens, M. C., Rjenmark, L., & Winter, E. M. (2021). Hypercalcemia during pregnancy: management and outcomes for mother and child. Endocrine, 71(3), 604-610.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-021-02615-2

Arch, J. J., Dimidjian, S., & Chessick, C. (2012). Are exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapies safe during pregnancy? Arch Womens Ment Health, 15(6), 445-457.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0308-9


Baas, M. A. M., van Pampus, M. G., Stramrood, C. A. I., Dijksman, L. M., Vanhommerig, J. W., & de Jongh, A. (2021). Treatment of Pregnant Women With Fear of Childbirth Using EMDR Therapy: Results of a Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial. Front Psychiatry, 12, 798249.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.798249

Baas, M. A. M., Stramrood, C. A. I., Dijksman, L. M., Vanhommerig, J. W., de Jongh, A., & van Pampus, M. G. (2023). How safe is the treatment of pregnant women with fear of childbirth using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy? Obstetric outcomes of a multi-center randomized controlled trial. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand.
https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14628

Baas, M. A. M., van Pampus, M. G., Braam, L., Stramrood, C. A. I., & de Jongh, A. (2020). The effects of PTSD treatment during pregnancy: systematic review and case study. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1), 1762310.
https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1762310

Bindeman, J. (2025). Healing after terminating a pregnancy for medical reasons and the role of EMDR therapy. Go With That Magazine.

Chiorino, V., Cattaneo, M. C., Macchi, E. A., Salerno, R., Roveraro, S., Bertolucci, G. G., Mosca, F., Fumagalli, M., Cortinovis, I., Carletto, S., & Fernandez, I. (2020). The EMDR Recent Birth Trauma Protocol: a pilot randomised clinical trial after traumatic childbirth. Psychology & Health, 35(7), 795–810.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2019.1699088

Cortizo, R. (2020). Hidden Trauma, Dissociation and Prenatal Assessment within the Calming Womb Model. Journal of Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology & Health, 34(6).

Cortizo, R. (2020). Prenatal and Perinatal EMDR Therapy: Early Family Intervention. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 14(2), 104–115.
https://doi.org/10.1891/emdr-d-19-00046

Cortizo, R. (2025). From bonding to attachment with the Calming Womb Family Therapy Model. Go With That Magazine.
https://www.emdria.org/magazine/from-bonding-to-attachment-with-the-calming-womb-family-therapy-model/

Dekel, S., Papadakis, J. E., Quagliarini, B., Jagodnik, K. M., & Nandru, R. (2023). A Systematic Review of Interventions for Prevention and Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Childbirth. medRxiv.
https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.08.17.23294230

Doherty, A., Nagle, U., Doyle, J., & Duffy, R. M. (2025). Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing for childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms: effectiveness, duration and completion. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 6, 2.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1487799

Forgash, C., Leeds, A., Stramrood, C., & Robbins, A. (2013). Case Consultation: Traumatized Pregnant Woman. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 7(1), 45–49.
https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.7.1.45

Hendrix, Y. M. G. A., van Pampus, M. G., Hofman, A., Henrichs, J., van der Horst, H. E., & de Jongh, A. (2025). Treatment of traumatic birth experience with postpartum early eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy: a randomized clinical trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol, S0002–9378(25)00532.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2025.07.051

Madrid, A. (2024). Pediatric Asthma: Improvement with Bonding Therapy. Clinical Research and Studies, 3(1).
https://doi.org/10.31579/2835-2882/041

Madrid, A., Skolek, S., & Shapiro, F. (2006). Repairing Failures in Bonding Through EMDR. Clinical Case Studies, 5(4), 271.

Moorehead, L. (2025). The silence is loud: Using EMDR for the treatment of underdiscussed postpartum rage. Go With That Magazine.

Peng, Z., Liu, J., Liu, B., Zhou, J., Zhang, L., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Psychological interventions to pregnancy-related complications in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: a scoping review. BMC Psychiatry, 24(1), 478.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05926-6

Sandstrom, M., Wiberg, B., Wikman, M., Willman, A. K., & Hogberg, U. (2008). A pilot study of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing treatment (EMDR) for post-traumatic stress after childbirth. Midwifery, 24(1), 62–73.

Stein, M. T. (2025). Myth-busting EMDR therapy in the perinatal period: A call to clarity for EMDR clinicians. Go With That Magazine.

Stramrood, C. A. I., van der Velde, J., Doornbos, B., Marieke Paarlberg, K., Weijmar Schultz, W. C. M., & van Pampus, M. G. (2012). The Patient Observer: Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress following Childbirth. Birth, 39(1), 70–76.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-536X.2011.00517.x

Sureda-Caldentey, B., Garcia-Gibert, C., Martínez, A., Giménez, Y., Segú, X., Mallorquí, A., Gelabert, E., Roca-Lecumberri, A., & Torres-Giménez, A. (2025). Effectiveness of an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing intervention for the prevention of post- traumatic symptoms in perinatal loss: a randomized pilot controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 0.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1593306


Tcheshmedjiev, I., & Farrell, D. (2023). The Effects of EMDR Therapy on Pregnant Clients With Substance Use Disorders: A Narrative, Scoping Literature Review. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, EMDR–2022.
https://doi.org/10.1891/emdr-2022-0049

Uccellini, O., Benlodi, A., Caroppo, E., Cena, L., Esposito, G., Fernandez, I., Ghazanfar, M., Imbasciati, A., Longo, F., Mazza, M., Marano, G., Nacinovich, R., Pignatto, A., Rolnick, A., Trivelli, M., Spada, E., & Vanzini, C. (2022). 1000 Days: The “WeCare Generation” Program-The Ultimate Model for Improving Human Mental Health and Economics: The Study Protocol. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(24), 16741.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416741

Zolghadr, N., Khoshnazar, A., MoradiBaglooei, M., & Alimoradi, Z. (2019). The Effect of EMDR on Childbirth Anxiety of Women With Previous Stillbirth. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 13(1), 10–19.
https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.13.1.10