Efficacy of an EMDR App for PTSD and SUD

Participants in the treatment group will receive Autonomous Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (A-EMDR) therapy delivered through an app on their device. Participants will be asked to complete 3 sessions per week for 4 consecutive weeks. During the treatment period, participants will also attend clinical sessions which will focus on factors such as the therapeutic alliance, assessing the participant's current state, reviewing recent alcohol and drug use, reviewing PTSD symptoms, providing a brief counseling intervention, enhancing positive expectancies, inspiring hope, and encouraging adherence to the study protocol.

Participants are advised to continue seeking mental health care as usual and will be added to a waitlist for A-EMDR. They will also attend two clinical sessions. Sessions may last 15 to 60 minutes and will focus on factors such as the therapeutic alliance, assessing the participant's current state, reviewing recent alcohol and drug use, reviewing PTSD symptoms, providing a brief counseling intervention, enhancing positive expectancies, inspiring hope, and encouraging adherence to the study protocol. Participants will continue to receive any usual healthcare services as per local standard of care. TAU and other medical appointments will be checked for attendance throughout the study period.