EMDR therapy in a patient with traumatic grief: A case report
Description
Traumatic grief is associated with symptoms and reactions that develops in people experiencing this loss as a result of sudden and violent death of a loved one. The grief after the loss is a normal and natural reaction. Traumatic grief affects the natural grief process by the fact that loss is unexpected and sudden. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a method that combines elements of various different approaches, such as psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral and client-oriented approaches. In this case report, it was aimed to emphasize the positive effect of EMDR therapy in a short time in a case diagnosed as traumatic grief.
Case Presentation
44 year old, university graduate, health officer, female patient was admitted to the psychiatry outpatient clinic with complaints of sleep disorder, fear, distress, not enjoying life, desire to cry, introversion, and pain and palpitations in her chest. It was learned that the patient lost her husband because of a sudden heart attack 13 months ago in the hospital where she worked. It was learned that the patient had a longing for his wife, had difficulty sleeping during the night without him, had a feeling that life was meaningless and empty, had difficulty in accepting death, introversion, anger and occasional feelings of guilt. EMDR therapy was started because it would benefit the patient without active psychiatric drug use. A total of 2 sessions of weekly EMDR therapy showed a 50% reduction in the patient’s complaints, as evidenced by clinical scales, and improved anxiety and depressive mood symptoms. EMDR is currently used in the treatment of many trauma-related mental disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the EMDR approach, memories related to the traumatic experience are improperly stored in memory. Memories stored in this way cause non-functional responses. In this case, EMDR therapy was performed in the patient who had traumatic grief symptoms after sudden death of her husband and the patient was observed to benefit in a short time. Our patient’s benefit from EMDR suggests that this therapy is an important alternative in patients with traumatic mourning. Long-term studies are needed in this field.
Case Presentation
44 year old, university graduate, health officer, female patient was admitted to the psychiatry outpatient clinic with complaints of sleep disorder, fear, distress, not enjoying life, desire to cry, introversion, and pain and palpitations in her chest. It was learned that the patient lost her husband because of a sudden heart attack 13 months ago in the hospital where she worked. It was learned that the patient had a longing for his wife, had difficulty sleeping during the night without him, had a feeling that life was meaningless and empty, had difficulty in accepting death, introversion, anger and occasional feelings of guilt. EMDR therapy was started because it would benefit the patient without active psychiatric drug use. A total of 2 sessions of weekly EMDR therapy showed a 50% reduction in the patient’s complaints, as evidenced by clinical scales, and improved anxiety and depressive mood symptoms. EMDR is currently used in the treatment of many trauma-related mental disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the EMDR approach, memories related to the traumatic experience are improperly stored in memory. Memories stored in this way cause non-functional responses. In this case, EMDR therapy was performed in the patient who had traumatic grief symptoms after sudden death of her husband and the patient was observed to benefit in a short time. Our patient’s benefit from EMDR suggests that this therapy is an important alternative in patients with traumatic mourning. Long-term studies are needed in this field.
Format
Conference
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Göbelek, M., Pirinçcioğlu, F., & Asoğlu, M. (2019). EMDR therapy in a patient with traumatic grief: A case report. Presentation at the 11th International Congress on Psychopharmacology & 7th International Symposium on Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 29(S1). doi:10.1080/24750573.2019.1648733
Citation
“EMDR therapy in a patient with traumatic grief: A case report,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 16, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/26371.