Does eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) have any utility in intellectual disabilities? Two bereavement case reports

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) are to some extent discriminated against when it comes to the psychotherapies. The long held belief that individuals with ID do not benefit from such interventions has been attributed in part to communication difficulties, lack of insight and lack of language sophistication. Yet, it is well known that these individuals are about four-fold at risk of developing mental health problems. Cognitive behavior therapies (CBT) and other related therapies are becoming more recognized in the field of intellectual disabilities. Loss and bereavement is common among people with ID but their exposure to interventions such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has been limited. EMDR is a psychological intervention that encompasses many aspects of traditional therapies such as CBT and psychodynamic therapies. There is little research in this area for people with ID. This paper reports two cases in individuals with intellectual disabilities who were struggling with bereavement. They appear to have benefited from EMDR sessions and there may be scope for research to establish its efficacy in this field.

Journal

English

K. Krafona

Krafona, K. (2010). Does eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) have any utility in intellectual disabilities? Two bereavement case reports. The Ghana International Journal of Mental Health, 2(1)