Integrating EMDR Into a novel evolutionary-based therapy for depression: A case study of postpartum depression

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders. Postpartum depression affects about 9% of women who give birth. Despite significant advances in research and in pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, depressive disorders remain difficult to treat. The application of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to depression has lagged behind its applications to trauma-related and anxiety disorders. I present 2 cases of postpartum depression successfully treated with a combined therapy, where EMDR is integrated into a novel therapeutic framework developed specifically for depressive disorders and based on evolutionary theory of depression, treating depression downhill (TDD). In the integrated TDD-EMDR therapy, I have made adjustments to the standard EMDR protocol such that the choice and nature of targets, the cognitive frame, and the objective for change in affect are determined by TDD framework. The described cases demonstrate the treatment process, including the modifications made to the standard EMDR procedures, and the treatment's outcome. I identify and discuss the differences between theories of EMDR and TDD.

Journal

English

Valerie Krupnik

Krupnik, V. (2015). Integrating EMDR Into a novel evolutionary-based therapy for depression: A case study of postpartum depression. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 9(3), 2015, pp. 137-149. doi:10.1891/1933-3196.9.3.137