A case series: Efficacy of short term EMDR on patients with persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD)

Grief is a normal response to loss of someone to whom a bond was formed; however, prolonged grief is considered pathological. Persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD) is defined as a persistent longing for the deceased over 12 months. Several treatment ways have been used for traumatic loss including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). In the current case series, effectiveness of EMDR on three PCBD patients will be indicated. Three patients applied to the clinic with similar complaints based on different traumatic backgrounds; commonly, all experienced death of a first-degree relative. Complaints of the patients were over-thinking about the deceased, sleep disturbances, self-blaming, social isolation, avoiding talks about lost relative, and loss of interest in activities. After pre-interviews, they were advised EMDR therapy. One session of EMDR was applied to two of the patients, and two EMDR sessions were conducted on one of them. After the sessions, the patients reported not feeling guilty about the loss anymore, returning their normal routines, feeling better, and showing decreased avoidance. Additionally, the scores of scales (CAPS, BAI, BDI, and IES-R) significantly declined. EMDR therapy can show successful results in a shorter time than other treatment ways used for PCBD treatment.

Journal

English

Usta, F. D., Yasar, A. B., Abamor, A. E., & Caliskan, M. (2017, April). A case series: Efficacy of short term EMDR on patients with persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD). European Psychiatry, 41(Supplement), S360–S361. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.02.357