Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for posttraumatic stress disorder: An update on research and practice

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is estimated to occur in 7 – 12% of the general population (Kessler et al., 1995; Kessler, 2000; Kessler et al., 2005), with higher rates (14%) in military veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts (Eisen et al., 2012). The condition presents significant consequences for the quality of life and functional status of millions of individuals worldwide. EMDR is a treatment method for PTSD based on the Adaptive Information Processing Model, utilizing a specific 8-phase protocol. Each phase is carefully titrated to the patient’s ability to tolerate re-visiting trauma memories. Bilateral eye movements or other methods of bilateral stimulation are a key component of the protocol. Once highly controversial, EMDR has become more “mainstream” as evidence for its effectiveness has accumulated, including a 2007 Cochrane review which found EMDR to be an evidenced-based treatment for PTSD. This presentation will explain the EMDR treatment protocol, provide a brief review of the literature on EMDR, and utilize a case study to illustrate its use in clinical practice. Implications for nursing will be discussed, including the feasibility of including EMDR training in psychiatric nursing graduate education.

Conference

English

Linda Mabey

Mabey, L. (2013, October). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for posttraumatic stress disorder: An update on research and practice. Presentation at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) 27th Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX