EMDR in paediatrics and rehabilitation: An effective tool for reduction of stress reactions?

Having to cope with life-threatening injury or illness can be very stressful for children and their parents. In medical settings children—and parents—can be traumatized by various events both before and during hospitalization as well as during the rehabilitation-phase. Although most children and parents display remarkable resilience over time, stress levels can remain extremely high for a part of these children and parents throughout the entire hospital period and thereafter, culminating in various stress reactions. These reactions can be summarized in a framework of Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress (PMTS). However, several evidence-based interventions are available presently. One of these evidence-based treatment interventions is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Clinical efficiency of EMDR for children has been demonstrated by a recent meta-analysis and other studies. Application of EMDR should be taken into consideration whenever there is suffering from PMTS reactions—particularly intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety and guilt feelings—or when these reactions interfere with either the recovery process or acceptance of a new situation. Integrated trauma-informed practice together with validated screening tools could be beneficial to families and possibly minimize or even prevent long-term PMTS reactions after life-threatening injury or illness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)

Journal

English

Beer, R., & Bronner, M. B. (2010, October). EMDR in paediatrics and rehabilitation: An effective tool for reduction of stress reactions?  Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 13(5), 307-309. doi:10.3109/17518423.2010.502914