The integration and progression of EMDR within a generic primary care mental health service

In 2007 the Department of Health (DoH. UK) published "Improving Access to Psychological Therapies" (IAPT). This meant that primary care mental health services (PCMHS) had to seriously consider the mode, method and efficacy of their service delivery. This paper will consider one such service, critically reflecting on the integration of EMDR as a mainstream therapeutic intervention. The service utilises therapists from various therapeutic paradigms, counselors, graduate workers, cognitive behavioural psychotherapists, cognitive analytical psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and registered mental nurses. Clients are referred with a wide range of psychological issues such as Depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD. Following a further EMDR training initiative in 2007 (Birmingham University), the service now boasts, One EMDR Consultant/Facilitator, three accredited practitioners, three level three trained therapists and two clinicians at level two. This paper will present a brief history of the development of EMDR within the PCMHS, exploring how EMDR has been utilised not only in the treatment of PTSD (NIHCE 20051, but also in the treatment of other psychological pathologies. The paper will highlight the number of clients treated with EMDR (retrospectively over a twelve month period), the average number of sessions per client and the therapeutic outcomes as measured by the Patients Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9) (Kroenke & Spitzer, 2002) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (CAD-7) ( Spitzer et al 2006). The Dissociative Experience Scale is used when considering EMDR as an intervention strategy and the Impact of Events Scale- Revised (WEISS et al 2004) when appropriate. The paper will conclude with a brief analysis of qualitative data from clinicians as to the impact EMDR has had on their clinical practice. Learning Outcomes: By the conclusion of the presentation the participants will: 1. Be able to discuss the application of EMDR in the treatment of psychopathologies other than PTSD. 2. To consider the integration of EMDR with other psychotherapeutic paradigms. 3. To critical consider the treatment outcomes and in particular the cost effectiveness of EMDR as a psychotherapeutic tool in a generic primary care setting. 4. Be aware of the ethical and political considerations of integrating EMDR into a generic primary care mental health service. Innovation: This work is innovative as it focuses on how EMDR can be utilised within generic mental health services. It critically reflects on the phenomenology of integrating EMDR into a PCMHS and it has encouraged the training of other EMDR clinicians outside of the primary care mental health team.

Conference

English

Lynn Keenan

Keenan, L. (2010, June). The integration and progression of EMDR within a generic primary care mental health service. In Trainiing issues. Symposium conducted at the 11th EMDR Europe Association Conference, Hamburg, Germany