Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): Information processing in the treatment of trauma

Shapiro, Francine; Maxfield, Louise

doi:10.1002/jclp.10068

Cited by 214 publications

(146 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…In this regard, bilateral stimulation is thought to accelerate memory processing. EMDR breaks with the traditional long-lasting exposure paradigm by applying short-term phases of exposure of typically 30-60 s. EMDR therapy involves bringing to mind distressing trauma-related images, beliefs, and physical sensations while the therapist evokes dual attention during exposure by inducing eye movements from side to side or alternating stimulation by touch or auditory stimuli [7]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 42%

A Comparison of Dual Attention, Eye Movements, and Exposure Only during Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial

Sack¹,

Zehl²,

Otti³

et al. 2016

Psychother Psychosom

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Background: Currently, there is controversy on the possible benefits of dual-attention tasks during eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: A total of 139 consecutive patients (including 85 females) suffering from PTSD were allocated randomly among 3 different treatment conditions: exposure with eyes moving while fixating on the therapist's moving hand (EM), exposure with eyes fixating on the therapist's nonmoving hand (EF), and exposure without explicit visual focus of attention as control condition (EC). Except for the variation in stimulation, treatment strictly followed the standard EMDR manual. Symptom changes from pre- to posttreatment were measured with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) by an investigator blinded to treatment allocation. Results: In total, 116 patients completed the treatment, with an average of 4.6 sessions applied. Intention-to-treat analysis revealed a significant improvement in PTSD symptoms with a high overall effect size (Cohen's d = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.67-2.24) and a high remission rate of PTSD diagnosis (79.8%). In comparison to the control condition, EM and EF were associated with significantly larger pre-post symptom decrease (ΔCAPS: EM = 35.8, EF = 40.5, EC = 31.0) and significantly larger effect sizes (EM: d = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.55-2.57, EF: d = 2.58, 95% CI: 2.01-3.11, EC: d = 1.44, 95% CI: 0.97-1.91). No significant differences in symptom decrease and effect size were found between EM and EF. Conclusions: Exposure in combination with an explicit external focus of attention leads to larger PTSD symptom reduction than exposure alone. Eye movements have no advantage compared to visually fixating on a nonmoving hand.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 42%

A Comparison of Dual Attention, Eye Movements, and Exposure Only during Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial

Sack¹,

Zehl²,

Otti³

et al. 2016

Psychother Psychosom

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“…with bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation (BLS) contains elementary sensory stimuli that alternately activate left-right hemisphere through visual, tactile or auditory modalities (Shapiro & Maxfield, 2002). BLS is mainly used in specific phases of treatment related to recall of traumatic memory, when re-processing of information and memory modification is needed for further progress of the therapy.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 44%

Neurobiology of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Vojtová

Hašto

2009

Act Nerv Super

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing represents a promising approach to treatment of posttraumatic disorders. The specific factors underlying its effectiveness rely particularly on bilateral stimulation, which seems to provoke a specific neurobiological response during traumatic recall particularly in individuals with PTSD. The empirical findings provide evidence for the effect of BLS on autonomic nervous system shifting the balance towards parasympathetic activation (reducing arousal) as well as the effect on subjectively perceived vividness and emotional burden of autobiographic memories (decrease). The most credible hypotheses derive the effects from neurobiological mechanisms employed in dual focus attention, orienting reflex and REM sleep. Further research is needed to explore the processes included in the EMDR therapy in more detail and clarify the role of bilateral stimulation.

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“…Originally it has been developed to diminish troubles related to traumatic memories, but it has been used also in other diseases consequent of stressful life events (20).…”

supporting

confidence: 42%

Evaluation of EMDR therapy efficacy in treatment of phantom limb pain

Sinici¹

2016

Dusunen Adam

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Evaluation of EMDR therapy efficacy in treatment of phantom limb painObjective: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Eye Movements of Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in the treatment of the phantom limp pain.Method: Participants of this study consist of amputation applied 14 inpatients in the Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department of Gülhane Military Hospital. Amputation was applied to four patients with diabetic foot and ten patients with trauma. Five patients had three sessions , eight patients had five sessions and two patients had six sessions of EMDR applications. The treatment was ended when patients expressed that they were not in pain. were applied at the end of the first week before EMDR applications and just after the EMDR applications.These tests were given to the patients who were invited to control again after one month and three months. The SCL-90-R was applied again in the third month control.Results: It was seen that phantom pain significantly decreased before the treatment, among shortly after, one month and 3 months later controls. Conclusion:In this study, EMDR therapy has been found to provide a significant improvement over the phantom pain. Based on the findings, EMDR therapy has been shown effective with early application on phantom pain. Bulgular: EMDR uygulaması öncesi, uygulama sonrası, bir ay ve üç ay sonra kontrollerde hastaların ağrılarında belirgin azalma görülmüştür. Keywords: EMDR, pain, phantom pain, trauma ÖZET Fantom ağrılarının tedavisinde EMDR terapi etkinliğinin değerlendirilmesiSonuç: Bu çalışmada, EMDR terapisinin fantom ağrıları üzerinde anlamlı bir iyileşme sağladığı saptanmıştır.Bulgulara dayanarak EMDR terapisi fantom ağrıları üzerinde erken dönem uygulamasıyla etkin görülmüştür.

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Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): Information processing in the treatment of trauma

Cited by 214 publications

References 11 publications

A Comparison of Dual Attention, Eye Movements, and Exposure Only during Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial

A Comparison of Dual Attention, Eye Movements, and Exposure Only during Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial

Neurobiology of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Evaluation of EMDR therapy efficacy in treatment of phantom limb pain

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