EMDR Session Research Articles

The effects of trauma-informed yoga as an enhancement to the practice of EMDR for posttraumatic stress disorder: an exploratory pilot study

ABSTRACT This novel pilot study assesses if Trauma-Informed Yoga (TIY) provides a platform for promoting the preparatory and regulatory skills necessary for EMDR when treating PTSD. Nine clients completed two EMDR sessions per week for three weeks. One EMDR session was preceded by TIY. Surveys and exit interviews were administered to therapists and clients following each EMDR session. We found that practicing TIY prior to EMDR encouraged interoception, mind-body connectedness, tolerance, and relaxation, thus suggesting it is beneficial to EMDR.

Academic Review of Clinicians' Awareness that Processing a Memory for DID Patients Will Often Be Missing During an EMDR Session

Academic Review of Clinicians' Awareness that Processing a Memory for DID Patients Will Often Be Missing During an EMDR Session

Adding EMDR for PTSD at the onset of treatment of borderline personality disorder: A pilot study

Background and objectivesEye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective treatment for individuals suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, EMDR is not typically offered to people with PTSD who also meet the criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study examines the feasibility and clinical benefits of EMDR for PTSD delivered in addition to the onset of treatment as usual (TAU) for BPD. MethodsIn a non-concurrent, multiple baseline design, 12 patients with BPD and PTSD received fifteen weekly 45-min sessions of TAU. During this period, eight weekly 90-min EMDR sessions were added. Outcome measures were obtained weekly for self-reported PTSD symptoms (PTSD checklist for DSM-5), levels of psychopathology (Brief Symptom Checklist), and the effect of psychopathology on different areas of life (Sheehan Disability Scale). Results9 participants completed the treatment protocol. In the EMDR phase, PTSD severity scores decreased significantly between sessions, while no between-session drop in scores occurred during the TAU only phase. Similar results were obtained for general symptoms and disability. No adverse events were reported. LimitationsResults on the efficacy and safety of EMDR in patients with BPD and PTSD need to be replicated in larger samples and in RCTs before they can be generalized to the entire population. ConclusionsThe results of our study suggest that EMDR may be feasible and effective in reducing PTSD symptoms in patients concurrently receiving BPD treatment. EMDR appears to be a promising intervention for patients with BPD and comorbid PTSD.

Linguistic changes during EMDR sessions: A preliminary single‐case study

AbstractSeveral studies have used text analysis software such as Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) to study how language modification reflects improvements in individuals’ psychophysical health. The aim of this preliminary single‐case study was to evaluate the linguistic changes occurring during EMDR sessions in a patient suffering from anorexia nervosa. Each weekly session (N = 73) of an entire one‐and‐a‐half‐year treatment was divided into three different stages (pre‐stimulation, stimulation and post‐stimulation phase): the patient's speech was analysed at each phase. Results showed significant changes in the examined linguistic categories: affective processes, cognitive processes, biological processes and non‐fluency words. These changes were observed before, during and after the bilateral stimulations. These results are discussed in the light of previous studies concerning the linguistic changes occurring in traumatic event disclosure. They suggest access and reprocessing of painful events during each session, especially when the clinician uses bilateral stimulation. It is possible to suppose the patient's progressive processing of the traumatic experience, followed by its integration into more adaptive mnemonic networks at the end of the therapeutic session. In conclusion, the observed linguistic changes could be representative of an adaptive resolution of adverse life experiences, allowing the patient to create new connections between thoughts, images and bodily sensations linked to the target memories. The clinical implications and limits of this single‐case study are also discussed.

Cognitive Function Assessment of a Patient With PTSD Before and After EMDR Treatment

The current case study investigates whether successful psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms will also ameliorate cognitive deficits. We describe the treatment response of a 37-year-old woman diagnosed with PTSD who received eight weekly EMDR sessions. At pre-treatment, the patient reported emotional disturbance on the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and problems with anxiety and sleep. Testing showed high scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Symptoms Scale of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Scale-Revised. An evaluation of her attention profile and other executive functions was conducted with dual execution tasks using a virtual reality program, Nesplora Aquarium. The attention testing data indicated attention-deficit disorder. At the end of the therapy, testing showed improvements in sleep problems and in emotional disturbance and anxiety symptoms on all measures. The attention testing revealed normal scores for her age range in the Nesplora Aquarium test. A follow-up assessment was carried out at 1 month, and it was observed that the patient maintained the improvement achieved. We discuss the relationship between PTSD and cognitive impairment and the value of the Nesplora Aquarium test for cognitive assessments. Our results suggest attentional deficits in this case when performing a continuous execution test with dual execution components that involve the participation of the central executive system of working memory.

Sequence matters: Combining Prolonged Exposure and EMDR therapy for PTSD

ObjectiveInvestigating the influence of the sequence in which two evidence-based trauma-focused treatments are offered to PTSD-patients. MethodsPTSD-patients were treated using an intensive eight-day treatment program, combining Prolonged Exposure (PE) and EMDR therapy. Forty-four patients received a PE session in the morning and an EMDR session in the afternoon, while 62 patients received the reversed sequence (EMDR followed by PE). Outcome measures were PTSD symptom severity and subjective experiences. ResultsPatients who received PE first and EMDR second showed a significantly greater reduction in PTSD symptoms. Patients preferred this sequence and valued the treatment sessions as significantly more helpful compared to patients in the EMDR-first condition. ConclusionThe results of this explorative study are supportive of the notion that PE and EMDR therapy can be successfully combined, and that sequence matters. First applying PE sessions before EMDR sessions resulted in better treatment outcome, and better subjective patient's evaluations in terms of treatment helpfulness and preference.

The EMDR Recent Birth Trauma Protocol: a pilot randomised clinical trial after traumatic childbirth

Objective: This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of brief EMDR intervention as compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU) in women with post-partum PTSD symptoms.Design: A pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted to evaluate possible differences between one EMDR session (n = 19) and one TAU session (n = 18) delivered in a maternity ward in the aftermath of childbirth.Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was the rate of remission of post-partum post-traumatic stress symptoms (i.e. IES-R score <23) in both groups at 6-weeks (T1) and 12-weeks’ post-partum (T2). Secondary outcome measures were mother-to-infant bonding, post-partum depressive symptoms, the presence of flashbacks and level of distress.Results: Most of the women improved their post-partum post-traumatic stress symptoms after only one treatment session. EMDR resulted more effective than TAU in reducing the proportion of women with post-partum post-traumatic stress symptoms at 6-weeks’ post-partum (78.9% EMDR vs. 39.9% TAU; p = .020). Moreover, women treated with EMDR experienced less flashbacks and distress as compared to TAU. No significant difference was found between treatments on mother-to-infant bonding and post-partum depressive symptoms.Conclusions: These findings, although preliminary, suggest that a brief EMDR intervention could be a viable and promising tool in the early treatment of post-traumatic stress related to traumatic childbirth.

A case study: Effects of EMDR therapy on a patient with persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD)

BackgroundLoss of a loved one is a distressing event that may result in grief characterized by emotional distress, longing of the dead, and dysfunctionality. Persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD) is differentiated by extended and damaging bereavement [1], which is being treated by some with EMDR [2]. In this study, the effects of an EMDR session on a patient with PCBD will be analyzed.CaseG.Ö. (45) is a married housewife who had been working, mother of a kid and a baby. She has lived with her family and her mother in a metropolitan city until her mother died a year ago, unexpectedly. Then, she quitted her job and they moved in a small city upon her husband's wish. The inpatient had complaints such as active suicidal thoughts, marital dissatisfaction and an ongoing deep sadness. EMDR therapy is applied on her grief and dysfunctional beliefs.ConclusionAfter one session of EMDR, her mood improved, her ruminations declined, she sought job, and became hopeful for the future. In our case, even one session of EMDR let remarkable improvements on PCBD. Indeed, as for other trauma-related issues, EMDR therapy can be utilized on PCBD.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

EMDR Therapy as Portal to a Child’s Processing of a Medical Condition: A Case Study and Session Deconstruction

This case study demonstrates the effective use of EMDR in helping a child manage fears triggered by a life-threatening chronic medical condition—congenital heart failure. It is well documented that childhood chronic illness creates ongoing stress and psychological problems for children and their families. Evidence suggests that interventions to enhance coping skills improve psychological functioning. EMDR has the potential to contribute to this end. Deconstructive analysis of a single EMDR session illustrates the working of Shapiro’s adaptive information processing (AIP) model. It demonstrates that the child can spontaneously open up channels of association to uncover, process, and resolve fears relating to the medical condition, as well as other concerns. A case is made for targeting whatever current, overt problem or symptom the child presents, because this inevitably serves as a portal to more covert, even unconscious core issues. Past, current, and future fears and traumatic experiences emerge and are processed to resolution. Also highlighted is the importance of integrating the individual EMDR treatment component into a family systems treatment approach for optimum outcome, because the illness impacts the whole family, ergo, the child. Recommendations for EMDR treatment planning and implementation with chronic illness are offered.

EFFICACY OF EYE MOVEMENT

Objectives: To demonstrate the efficacy of EMDR in complex multiplepsychological trauma after failed drug treatment from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor(SSRI) in a diagnosed case of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method: Singleparticipant of this case study, a sitting session judge of judicial governmental scaffold reportedto this mental health tertiary care facility at his own accord with features of intense anxiety,depression, maladjustment issues and post- traumatic stress for a duration of several months.As a partial responder to full trial of SSRI he was enrolled for EMDR therapy to address hissymptoms of intense anxiety, panic attacks, being overwhelmingly fearful, depressed, low selfesteem,inappropriate feelings of guilt, flashbacks, avoidance, nightmares, hyper-arousal andinability to perform as a judicial head in active war stricken area of northern Pakistan. Completepsychiatric evaluation was carried out and after the discontinuation of SSRIs he was scoredon Impact of Event Scale (IES). He fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for PTSD as evaluated by theEnglish version of the PTSD module of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV administeredonce before commencement of EMDR. Safe place of the client was established and 8 stagedprotocol of EMDR was started with him. Multiple EMDR sessions were conducted. Result:The case presented in this paper had multiple psychological trauma forms and failed drugtreatment and yet it was observed that EMDR provided marked improvement in all the domainsof his deficits and this was at a prompt speed as compared to cognitive behavioural therapy(CBT) which usually takes longer duration of therapy to achieve similar results. Conclusions:EMDR provides marked improvement in all domains of complex mental trauma and traumaticmemories. Improvement attained was prompt and enduring as compared to other formsof established therapies and drug treatment indicating permanent changes happening atneurobiological levels of brain.

The Provision of an EMDR-Based Multicomponent Trauma Treatment With Child Victims of Severe Interpersonal Trauma

This study evaluated a multicomponent phase–based trauma treatment approach for 34 children who were victims of severe interpersonal trauma (e.g., rape, sexual abuse, physical and emotional violence, neglect, abandonment). The children attended a week-long residential psychological recovery camp, which provided resource building experiences, the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR-IGTP), and one-on-one EMDR intervention for the resolution of traumatic memories. The individual EMDR sessions were provided for 26 children who still had some distress about their targeted memory following the EMDR-IGTP. Results showed significant improvement for all the participants on the Child’s Reaction to Traumatic Events Scale (CRTES) and the Short PTSD Rating Interview (SPRINT), with treatment results maintained at follow-up. More research is needed to assess the EMDR-IGTP and the one-on-one EMDR intervention effects as part of a multimodal approach with children who have suffered severe interpersonal trauma.

Neurobiological correlates of EMDR therapy

The EEGs in a group of ten subjects with major psychological trauma treated with EMDR and in ten controls have been registered both during the listening of the autobiographical narrative of the index trauma (script) and during a whole EMDR session. The EEGs have been performed again during the last EMDR session when patients were free of symptoms. During script listening a prevalent activation of the limbic regions corresponding to prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortex has been registered, being explained as the emotional arousal during trauma reliving at the symptomatic phase. The significant decrease of such activations during the late asymptomatic phase represents the neurobiological correlate of recovery. Moreover, the evidence of significant cortical activation in the parietal-temporo-occipital areas, during the last session, suggests a switch of the dominant electrical signal towards cortical areas with a prevalent cognitive function.

EMDR and adaptive information processing. Psychotherapy as a stimulation of the self-reparative psychological processes

Based on the concept of traumatic event, the model of the adaptive information processing is described to illustrate how EMDR is applied to reprocess the trauma and resolve post-traumatic psychopathology. The eight phases of the EMDR treatment are presented together with the way an EMDR session is conducted and the contribution and innovation that EMDR represents in the field of therapy of post-traumatic states and its applicability in other symptomatic conditions.< span class="text23">

Violences conjugales et psychothérapie Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) : études de cas

The objective of this article is to investigate the effects of Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing treatment for victims of domestic violence. Five women were offered treatment with between three and nine 60-minute EMDR sessions. Assessments were completed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at the 6-month follow-up, with the purpose of demonstrating the ability of EMDR psychotherapy to reduce Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Results showed a significant reduction in PTSD scores (intrusion, avoidance symptoms), anxiety, and depression, and were maintained after 6months. This study opens up original perspectives for the treatment of domestic violence victims. The question of EMDR therapy's adequacy and pertinence for the treatment of domestic violence will be discussed. In any case, EMDR therapy seems to offer a promising therapeutic, social, and clinical response for this population, which is often difficult to treat.

Psychophysiological Changes During EMDR and Treatment Outcome

This study was designed to investigate the question of whether psychophysiological changes during EMDR sessions are related to subjective and objective reduction of PTSD symptoms. During-session changes in autonomic tone in relation to session-to-session changes of subjective stress, trauma-related symptoms, and psychophysiological reactions during a traumatic reminder were investigated in 10 patients suffering from single-trauma PTSD. Treatment duration followed each patient’s individual needs and ranged between 1 and 4 sessions, resulting in a total of 24 EMDR treatment sessions from which psychophysiological data were completely recorded. Treatment with EMDR was followed by a significant reduction of trauma-related symptoms, elimination of the PTSD diagnosis in 8 of the 10 participants, as well as by significantly reduced psychophysiological reactivity to an individualized trauma script. Psychophysiological dearousal in sessions correlated significantly with decrease in script-related reactions in heart rate and parasympathetic tone, and with changes in subjective disturbance. Our results indicate that information processing during EMDR is followed by during-session decrease in psychophysiological activity, reduced subjective disturbance and reduced stress reactivity to traumatic memory.

Mimisch-affektive Beziehungsregulation von früh- versus akuttraumatisierten Patienten unter Berücksichtigung amnestischer Tendenzen und Derealisation

In the present study we examined the facial affective behaviour of acute adult-onset traumatized patients versus childhood-onset traumatized patients. Furthermore, we analyzed whether a decrease in emotional numbing results from a reduction of symptoms. We used amnestic tendencies as a moderator variable. The facial affective behaviour was coded with the Emotional Facial Acting Coding System, an instrument for the registration of facial movements with emotional relevance. The facial affective behaviour of the patient's first and last EMDR sessions was compared. Childhood-onset and acute adult-onset traumatized patients showed the same reduction of overall facial activity. We found significantly higher psychic complaints (global severity index) (SCL-90-R) in childhood-onset traumatized patients and no difference in amnestic tendencies (FDS) between the two groups. Childhood-onset traumatized patients showed higher values of derealisation (FDS). The facial affective reduction remains constant over time. Also childhood-onset traumatized patients developed more psychic complaints and greater derealisation.

EMDR After a Critical Incident: Treatment of a Tsunami Survivor With Acute Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Research indicates that EMDR is effective for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with numerous studies showing a high percentage of symptom remission after 3 sessions. The case of a tsunami survivor with acute PTSD is presented. Treatment for overt trauma symptoms was completed within 3 sessions, including all 8 phases and the 3-pronged protocol (i.e., past, present, future targets). One EMDR session was sufficient to process the trauma and alleviate the related symptoms, while another session was necessary for re-evaluation and processing present triggers and future templates. Resource installation was particularly helpful to prepare him for those future situations that had been generating anxiety as a result of his traumatization.

Validity of the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale in EMDR

To test the psychometric properties of the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS), this study analyzed the data from 61 patients treated with EMDR. The pretreatment self-reported questionnaires, the in-session records of EMDR, and the Clinical Global Impression–Change (CGI-C) scale at the termination of EMDR were reviewed. The initial score of the SUDS at the first session was significantly correlated with the patient’s level of depression, the state anxiety, and distress from the impact of events. The final score of the SUDS at the first session was significantly correlated with the CGI-C score at termination. Consequently, this study confirmed that the SUDS in EMDR sessions has good psychometric properties.

EMDR and Olfactory Reference Syndrome A Case Series

Olfactory reference syndrome (ORS) is an illness currently considered a delusional disorder under the DSM–IV criteria. Patients believe that they emit a foul odor, causing them great emotional distress and negative social consequences. Its etiology is inadequately understood, and there is generally a poor response to pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions. This article describes the treatment of four consecutive cases of ORS whose pathological symptoms had endured for 8–48 years. The administration of EMDR consisted of processing the various life experiences that appeared to cause and/or trigger the pathology. The EMDR sessions resulted in a complete resolution of symptoms in all four cases, which was maintained at follow-up. Given the rapid and sustained results, we offer a hypothesis based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model to explain the etiopathology and remission.

The Use of EMDR in Reducing Presentation Anxiety: A Case Study

Effective presentation skills are vital for success in most organizations. Preparing students for their careers, college educators often require that students demonstrate effective presentation skills. While traditional approaches to managing presentation anxiety help some students, EMDR may offer an effective intervention for those with serious presentation anxiety. This case study involves a student with presentation anxiety referred for EMDR from an organizational communication class. The subject delivered videotaped presentations and completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) prior to and after completing three EMDR sessions. The subject’s pre–post STAI scores reduced from the 98th to the 55th percentile. Blind expert ratings of the videotaped presentations indicated pronounced performance improvement. At 12-month follow-up, the subject was successfully employed in a management position, making effective presentations without intense anxiety.