Treating obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) using eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR): A case series design
Description
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterised by recurrent obsessions (thoughts, images, impulses that are deemed to be intrusive, unacceptable, uncontrollable and ego dystonic) and compulsions (repetitive behaviours that can be overt or covert, E. G .excessive hand washing or ruminations) (DSM 5. 2013) The main psychological treatment paradigm for OCD is Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (CBP), (NICE 2005, Salkovskis 2008, Deacon et al 2004). However it must be acknowledged that whilst CBP can be effective, not all clients respond well to CBP and even when they do the level of improvement varies (Roth 2006). Rector et al (2009) report high “drop out” rates of up to 40% of people suffering from OCD and receiving CBP. Various studies have demonstrated that interventions that focus upon the way clients appraise the content of their obsessive thoughts, rather than focussing on the thought itself, produce better and longer lasting results (Salkovskis 2008; Deakon et al 2004; Clark 2000 & Rackman 1993) The focus on the clients appraisals of their thoughts, over responsibility (Salkovskis 1998), Issues surrounding control (Clark 2001) and issues surrounding safety (Rachman 1998) rather than fussing on the behaviours and compulsions themselves allows for other forms of psychological interventions such as EMDR to be considered.
Methodology and Analysis
Series case design (N=8): Psychometric measures: Yale- Brown Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (Goorman et al 1989); PHQ-9 (Kroenke et al 2001) and GAD-7 (Spitzer et al 2006). The DES (Bernstein & Putman 1986) was routinely administered as per EMDR safe practice.
Method
Adults between the ages of 18-65 who carry a diagnosis of OCD and who have received CBP within the previous five years but are still experiencing symptoms, will be offered assessment and eight secessions of EMDR (in an effort to replicate IAPT services), followed by one and three month follow up appointments (no EMDR will be used at follow up). Normal EMDR protocol will be used for clients with past aversive life experiences (PALE) normal EMDR focussing on Intolerance of Uncertainty for those where no PALE was identified.
Results
Significant improvement noted across all psychometric measures at three month follow up , also self- reported positive behavioural change reported by subjects.
Methodology and Analysis
Series case design (N=8): Psychometric measures: Yale- Brown Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (Goorman et al 1989); PHQ-9 (Kroenke et al 2001) and GAD-7 (Spitzer et al 2006). The DES (Bernstein & Putman 1986) was routinely administered as per EMDR safe practice.
Method
Adults between the ages of 18-65 who carry a diagnosis of OCD and who have received CBP within the previous five years but are still experiencing symptoms, will be offered assessment and eight secessions of EMDR (in an effort to replicate IAPT services), followed by one and three month follow up appointments (no EMDR will be used at follow up). Normal EMDR protocol will be used for clients with past aversive life experiences (PALE) normal EMDR focussing on Intolerance of Uncertainty for those where no PALE was identified.
Results
Significant improvement noted across all psychometric measures at three month follow up , also self- reported positive behavioural change reported by subjects.
Format
Conference
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Keenan, P., Keenan, L., Ingham, C, & Farrell, D. (2014, June). Treating obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) using eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR): A case series design. In EMDR research symposium (Derek Farrell, Chair). Symposium presented at the 15th EMDR Europe Association Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland
Citation
“Treating obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) using eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR): A case series design,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 6, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/22872.