Restoration of emotional control ability in PTSD following symptom amelioration by EMDR therapy

Abstract

IntroductionHyper-vigilance as well emotional hyper-reactivity to trauma-related cues are major facets of the emotional deficits frequently described as being part of the dysfunction causing aetiology and maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ObjectiveWe aimed at exploring how the ability to control for emotional responses is altered in PTSD and it can be restored after a treatment suppressing core symptoms, the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. MethodsTwenty healthy controls and 19 PTSD patients were assessed on their abilities to control their emotions elicited by film excerpts inducing happiness, peacefulness, fear and sadness. Skin conductance (SC) and frowning activity were recorded while viewing the films before and after successful EMDR therapy. Verbal assessments on emotions were given after each excerpt. ResultsThe attempt to control for their emotions significantly enhanced SC responses to fearful and happy clips, in PTSD as compared to controls. In addition, it significantly increased frowning while watching to sad and fearful clips. Such differences disappeared after EMDR therapy. Patients initially were also less efficient at controlling all four emotions than healthy controls, but after EMDR, both groups rated similarly their controlling abilities. ConclusionThese results suggest a major effect of EMDR therapy to restore emotional processing in PTSD.