A role for EMDR in the treatment of trauma in patients suffering from a psychosis: Four vignettes

Many patients with a functional psychosis are likely to have a history of trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); some may be traumatized by their psychotic symptoms. We present a series of vignettes to describe eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment of 4 patients suffering from a functional psychotic illness who had a significant history of trauma. After receiving EMDR, each patient showed an improvement in their PTSD symptoms and reported an improvement in the quality of their lives. Follow-up at 3–6 years indicated that the treatment effects were maintained, with changes evident in elimination of trauma-related delusions, reduction in anxiety and depression, fewer hospital admissions, and overall improved quality of life. Because a history of trauma and PTSD symptoms are more frequent in patients with a psychosis, and trauma may be an etiological component of psychosis, EMDR treatment needs to be researched and explored as a treatment opportunity.

Journal

English

Richard Laugharne
Deborah Marshall
Jonathan Laugharne
Alan Hassard

Laugharne, R., Marshall, D., Laugharne, J., & Hassard, A. (2014). A role for EMDR in the treatment of trauma in patients suffering from a psychosis: Four vignettes. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 8(1), 19-24. doi:10.1891/1933-3196.8.1.19