Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment of internalized shame.

Abstract

Thirteen subjects were administered the Internalized Shame Scale (ISS) before and after EMDR therapy to determine whether Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) significantly reduced internalized shame and increased self-esteem as measured by the ISS. While the study did not control for alternative treatment effects, age, diagnosis, SES, or ethnicity of subjects; statistical analysis indicated a significant decrease in internalized shame subscale scores and a significant increase in self-esteem subtest scores following treatment with EMDR. These results support the hypothesis that EMDR is an effective treatment for internalized shame, even when shame is not the identified target of treatment. These preliminary findings suggest that future research is warranted to explore the efficacy of EMDR in the treatment of internalized shame. KEY WORDS: EMDR; shame; internalized shame scale, self-esteem Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Treatment of Internalized ShameInternalized shame beleaguers many psychotherapy patients and remains an intractable treatment problem. Although much has been published about shame and self-esteem since 1980. For example, no clearly effective treatment has emerged that consistently results in shame reduction or the enhancement of selfesteem. This pilot study supports the utility of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as a method of reducing internalized shame while increasing self-esteem. It is the first identified attempt in the field of published shame studies to support a specific treatment for internalized shame.

Using Compassionate Mind Training as a Resource in EMDR: A Case Study

“…These emotions can inhibit recovery if the individual feels no compassion for themselves (Balcon, Call, & Pearlman, 2000). There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that individuals may benefit from developing compassion for "the self that was shamed" and/or feels guilt and blame (Beaumont, Galpin, & Jenkins, 2012;Gilbert, Baldwin, Irons, Baccus, & Palmer, 2006;Gilbert & Irons, 2004;Lee, Scragg, & Turner, 2001).…”

A Comparison between Female Psychiatric Outpatients with BPD and Female University Students in Terms of Trauma, Internalized Shame and Psychiatric Symptomatology.

“…Shame, as with all human emotions, can range from a transitory affect that is easily managed to a consistent and persistent mood that becomes an inflexible, unchanging and pervasive part of the personality. The concept of internalized shame depicts an extreme and intense sense of shame as a chronic aspect of identity, as distinct from the emotion of shame, which although sometimes intense, is transitory (Balcom, Call & Pearlman, 2000). Internalized shame permeates a person's life as the filter through which all experience is perceived (Spero, 1984; Thrane, 1979) and the person becomes convinced that he or she is unlovable, dirty, worthless and hopeless.…”

Preliminary Evidence for the Efficacy of EMDR in Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder

“…They suggest that EMDR may be useful in treating chronic pain (e.g., Grant & Threfl o, 2002;Schneider, Hofmann, Rost, & Shapiro, 2007), body image disturbances (e.g., McGoldrick, Begum, & Brown, this issue), specifi c phobias with a traumatic origin (e.g., de Jongh, van den Oord, & ten Broeke, 2002), "internalized shame" (Balcom, Call, & Pearlman, 2000), affect dysregulation (Korn & Leeds, 2002), borderline personality disorder (Brown & Shapiro, 2006), and PTSD-related anger and guilt (Stapleton, Taylor, & Asmundson, 2006). So far, no study has addressed the use of EMDR for treating generalized anxiety disorder.…”