Modified EMDR with case of encephalitis

My client Miss S ,is 27 yr old girl was diagnosed with Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Symptoms included highly characteristic set of neurologic deficits along with behavioural changes, cognitive deterioration and abnormal speech. Short term memory deficits and confusion was seen when she was slowly recovering. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a disease occurring when antibodies produced by the body’s own immune system attack NMDA receptors in the brain. Miss S was admitted for 6 months in the hospital in UK and has no recollection what happened in those 6 months. After she got her memory back, she could barely talk and all her motor skills were grossly impaired. Along with Occupational Therapy and Speech therapy, she was recommended therapy to work on her cognitive impairments and deficits, behavioural issues, attention spans which were affected after the encephalitis episode and her future concerns about her career. Not only she didn’t have access to her memories ,but it was instructed by doctors not to trigger any of her past memories related to encephalitis. Client also exhibited high levels of anxiety after this episode. EMDR protocols that used were Inverted Protocol by Arne Hofmann. The proposed tests of the protocol are a way to ensure the client is neither kept too long in affect- avoidant stabilization nor pulled too early into trauma- work that overwhelms her. The goals that were worked on was to make her everyday life more calm and stable ,the ability to control herself as she developed impulsive behaviours like drinking too much and lack of emotional regulation. The Wedging and Strengthening Technique called as Absorption Technique was used to enhance resources in order to deal her future concerns such as relationship problems, present and future trigger with her work and her inability to comprehend cues in the environment. Resource Development Installation by Dr Andrew Leeds was used to install positive resources in the client. Resources were drawn from three board domains of experience, Mastery memories, relational resources and symbols. Well selected resources were helpful in enhancing current behavioural ,emotional and cognitive stability.

Conference

English

Seema Hingorrany

Hingorrany, S. (2020, January). Modified EMDR with case of encephalitis. Paper presented at the 4th EMDR Asia International Conference, Bangkok, T