E.M.D.R: Eye-movement desensibilisation and reprocessing

A new therapy using a saccadic eye-movement desensitisation. EMD procedure has recently been introduced to treat posttraumatic stress disorder, a disorder that has been difficult to treat in the past. This paper reports the treatment of a woman with posttraumatic stress disorderusing the EMD procedure. She was treated with only two sessions of EMDR lasting approximately one hour and a half. The 90 day follow-up showed that the treatment gains were maintained and after a year the positive therapeutic effects were stable. These results show the efficacy and efficiency of EMDR method in the treatment of chronic traumatic memories.

EMDR perspectives reports recent research on the adaptative and maladaptative consequences of the experience of trauma. It is suggested that EMDR generates directions for future research and is helping in the treatment of patients with impaired ego-strength. The procedure fits well in a psychodynamic oriented setting : EMDR through the flow of associations, is developing an awareness,that might help the client to establish a contact with the internal representation.

Magazine

English

F. Bonnel

Bonnel, F. (1997, December). E.M.D.R: Eye-movement desensibilisation and reprocessing. Revue Franaise de Psychiatrie et de Psychologie Médicale, 1(13),