Table 1. Description of included studies.

Study	Interventions	n	TFT sessions and delivery	Population	Target	Measure	Time point	Dropouts	Overall risk of bias
Behnammoghadam et al., 2015 [45]	EMDR vs UC	60	3 x 45–90 min on alternate days; standalone	Cardiac patients with BDI II score >17, Iran	Experiences relating to cardiac arrests	BDI II	Post	Not reported	High risk
Dominguez et al., 2020 [46]	TAU + EMDR vs assertiveness (CBT) + TAU vs TAU	49	3 x 90 min; adjunct	Clinical and subclinical depression, Australia	Past aversive events, episodic in nature and thematically linked to current symptoms	SCID 5; DASS 42	Post; 6 and 12 weeks	9%	Low risk
Gauhar & Wajid, 2016 [54]	EMDR vs WL	17	6–8 weekly session 60 min; standalone	Clinical MDD diagnosis (DSM IV TR), Pakistan	Past aversive events, episodic in nature and thematically linked to current symptoms	BDI II	Post	35%	Some risk
Hase et al., 2018 [47]	EMDR + TAU vs TAU	30	4–12 (1–2 per week); adjunct	Psychiatric inpatients (diagnostic interview and BDI-II >12), Germany	Past aversive events, episodic in nature and thematically linked to current symptoms	BDI II SCL 90-R	Post	Not reported	High risk
Hogan, 2001 [48]	EMDR + TAU vs CBT +TAU	30	1 x 60 min; adjunct	Mood disorder or adjustment disorder with depressed mood, USA	Past aversive events, episodic in nature and thematically linked to current symptoms	BDI II	Post	Not reported	High risk
Kao et al., 2018 [55]	EMDR vs UC	57	4 x 60–90 min weekly; standalone	Patients with heart failure, Taiwan	Most unpleasant experience of heart failure	BDI II	Post; 1 & 3 months	9%	High risk
Moritz et al., 2018 [31]	Self guided ImRs (brief and long form) vs WL	127	Self administered over 6 weeks; standalone	Clinical, Germany	Past aversive events, episodic in nature and thematically linked to current symptoms	BDI II	Post	21%	Some risk
Study	Interventions	n	TFT sessions and delivery	Population	Target	Measure	Time point	Dropouts	Study quality
Ostacoli et al., 2018 [56]	EMDR vs CBT	66	15 +/-3; standalones	Treatment resistant depression (BDI >13 and MINI), Italy and Spain	Past aversive events, episodic in nature and thematically linked to current symptoms	BDI II	Post; 6 months	20%	Some risk
Passoni et al., 2018 [57]	EMDR vs WL (delayed treatment)	33	8 group x 120 min over two months; standalone	Primary Carers of dementia patients, Italy	Issues related to caring for dementia	AD-R	Post	25%	High risk
Rahimi et al., 2018 [58]	EMDR vs UC	90	6 x 30–45 min 3 sessions per week; standalone	Patients receiving haemodialysis with HADS score in borderline or clinical range, Iran	Traumatic haemodialysis scene	HADS	Post	0%	High risk
Su, 2018 [59]	EMDR vs CBT	8	10; standalone	Diagnosis of depression, USA	Past aversive events, episodic in nature and thematically linked to current symptoms	PHQ-9	1 month	0%	Some risk

n = number analysed; EMDR = eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing; UC = usual care; BDI II = Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition; TAU = treatment as usual; CBT = non trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy; SCID 5 = Structured Clinical Interview for DSM 5; DASS 42; Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale– 42; ITT = intent to treat; WL = waitlist; MDD = major depressive disorder; DSM IV = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition; SCL 90-R Symptom Checklist–90-Revised; ImRs = imagery rescripting; MINI = Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview; AD-R = Anxiety and Depression Scale–Reduced Form; HADS = Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; PHQ-9 = Patient Health Questionnaire– 9.