Treatment of phantom limb pain with EMDR:  Two videotaped case studies with pre and post measures

In the present pilot study, an EMDR clinician provided five sessions of EMDR to each of two participants with phantom limb pain (PLP). Both participants had a single leg amputation below the knee. One had suffered from PLP for one year; the other for twelve years. A variety of pre and post measures were administered by an independent assessor using standard administration procedures: The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Interview; the Impact of Event Scale, the N.A.S. Pain Scale, the McGill Pain Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory. The therapist collected process measures of SUDS and VOC during the treatment sessions, as required in the standard EMDR protocol. Results of the standardized and process measures will be presented, along with videotaped excerpts of the EMDR sessions. Results for the two participants included complete elimination of PLP; elimination of PTSD; alleviation of general pain and reduction of depression. Process measures indicated reductions in SUDS and increases in VOC scores. One year follow-up information will also be provided. Discussion will focus on the implications of the results obtained.

Conference

English

Robert Tinker
Sandra Wilson
Lee Becker

Tinker, R., Wilson, S., & Becker, L. (1997, July). Treatment of phantom limb pain with EMDR: Two videotaped case studies with pre and post measures. Presentation at the 2nd EMDR International Association Conference, San Francisco, CA