Integration of hypnotic therapy with EMDR in the psychodynamic treatment of panic attacks disorder: Trauma and panic

The authors illustrate here a special intervention plan that has demonstrated particular benefit in the treatment of Panic Disorder. They introduce here a specific modality of treatment, based upon the integration of hypnotic techniques with EMDR, and following a carefully planned procedure. This modality of treatment is comprised of several steps that allow the articulation of a structured intervention. This precise scheme of work is based on the eight phases of EMDR and its integration with hypnosis therapy. The authors present an elaborated single case study of one patient with Panic Disorder along with summaries of several others who were treated with this integrated modality. The results of the intervention show a noteworthy decrease in the frequency of panic attacks, a reduction in anticipatory anxiety, the alleviation of the somatic symptoms, depression, and other difficulties associated with this disorder. These clinical case studies suggest the efficacy of this modality of EMDR integrated with hypnosis, and encourage further research in this area.

Conference

English

Elisa Faretta
Piero Parietti

Faretta, E., & Parietti, P. (2003, May). Integration of hypnotic therapy with EMDR in the psychodynamic treatment of panic attacks disorder: Trauma and panic. In Anxiety disorders. Symposium conducted at the 4th EMDR Europe Association Conference, Rome, Italy