On the applicability of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) as an intervention in dogs with fear and anxiety disorders after a traumatic event

C.M Kapteijn,J.A.M Van Der Borg,C.M Vinke,N Endenburg

doi:10.1163/1568539x-bja10123

C.M Kapteijn, J.A.M Van Der Borg + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-bja10123

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Journal: Behaviour	Publication Date: Sep 28, 2021
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Utrecht University

Abstract

Abstract Fear and anxiety disorders are prevalent in dogs. These disorders are not adequately resolved by current interventions, which urges exploration of additional interventions. In humans, fear and anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are effectively treated by Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR is a non-invasive and non-pharmacological intervention involving bilateral sensory stimulation while memorizing the traumatic event, resulting in decreased emotionality of the memory. We argue EMDR might be applied as an intervention for fear and anxiety disorders in dogs, adding to the currently available interventions for the field of Clinical Ethology. Particularly nonverbal EMDR protocols used in preverbal children can be applied and the setup can be adapted for dogs. Future research should focus on the development of nonverbal EMDR protocols including proper controls, and on clinical effectiveness of such EMDR protocols for dogs. Apart from behavioural measures, psychophysiological variables should be incorporated as well.

Highlights

Fear and anxiety are reported as increasingly common behavioural disorders in dogs (Bamberger & Houpt, 2006; Puurunen et al, 2020) with a prevalence ranging from 26.2 to 44% (Tiira et al, 2016; Chung et al, 2016; Dinwoodie et al, 2019; Salonen et al, 2020)
Clinical symptoms of fear and anxiety disorders in animals seem to correspond with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms in humans, such as psychophysiological stress response to cues associated with the traumatic experience, avoidance behaviour, and hyperreactivity and arousal (Foa et al, 1992; rats: Cohen et al, 2012; laboratory rodents: Goswami et al, 2013)
PTSD is defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA, 2013) as a trauma and stress related disorder that occurs after exposure to a traumatic experience such as threatened death, serious injury, sexual violation or even to exposure to aversive details of traumatic events experienced by close family members or friends

Summary

Introduction

Fear and anxiety are reported as increasingly common behavioural disorders in dogs (Bamberger & Houpt, 2006; Puurunen et al, 2020) with a prevalence ranging from 26.2 to 44% (Tiira et al, 2016; Chung et al, 2016; Dinwoodie et al, 2019; Salonen et al, 2020). Clinical symptoms of fear and anxiety disorders in animals seem to correspond with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms in humans, such as psychophysiological stress response to cues associated with the traumatic experience, avoidance behaviour, and hyperreactivity and arousal (Foa et al, 1992; rats: Cohen et al, 2012; laboratory rodents: Goswami et al, 2013). Current interventions of fear and anxiety treatment in dogs consist of a combination of behavioural and pharmacological interventions (Sherman & Mills, 2008; Ibanez & Anzola, 2009). As PTSD is effectively treated by Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in humans, it is worth investigating if this non-invasive intervention could potentially be a useful tool to treat fear and anxiety disorders after a traumatic event in dogs as well

What is EMDR and what’s in it for the fearful dog?

Practical application of EMDR-like techniques in dogs

Validation of EMDR intervention

Findings

Conclusion