EMDR as therapy for conditions other than PTSD: A systematic review
Description
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The technique is known to stimulate the capacity to reprocess maladaptive memories that are thought to be central to this pathology. Here we investigate if EMDR therapy can be used in other conditions than PTSD. We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science.
We searched for published empirical findings on EMDR, excluding those centred on trauma and PTSD, published up to 2020. The results were classified by psychiatric categories. Ninety articles met our research criteria. A positive effect was reported in addictions, somatoform disorders, sexual dysfunction, eating disorder, disorders of adult personality, mood disorders, reaction to severe stress, anxiety disorders, performance anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), pain, neurodegenerative disorders, paedopsychiatry and sleep. The evidence was more consistent in pain, OCD, mood disorders, and reaction to severe stress. EMDR’s efficiency across numerous pathological situations, highlighted the central role of affective memory in several psychiatric and non-psychiatric conditions.
Furthermore, EMDR seems to be successful in usually uncooperative (e.g. Dementia) or unproductive cases (e.g. aphasia). Moreover, in some severe medical situations were psychologic distress was an obstacle, EMDR allowed the continuation of treatmentas-usual. Our review suggests that it is a safe and economical therapeutic option, and its effect in nonpathological situations opens new avenues for translational research. Overall more methodologically rigorous studies are needed.
We searched for published empirical findings on EMDR, excluding those centred on trauma and PTSD, published up to 2020. The results were classified by psychiatric categories. Ninety articles met our research criteria. A positive effect was reported in addictions, somatoform disorders, sexual dysfunction, eating disorder, disorders of adult personality, mood disorders, reaction to severe stress, anxiety disorders, performance anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), pain, neurodegenerative disorders, paedopsychiatry and sleep. The evidence was more consistent in pain, OCD, mood disorders, and reaction to severe stress. EMDR’s efficiency across numerous pathological situations, highlighted the central role of affective memory in several psychiatric and non-psychiatric conditions.
Furthermore, EMDR seems to be successful in usually uncooperative (e.g. Dementia) or unproductive cases (e.g. aphasia). Moreover, in some severe medical situations were psychologic distress was an obstacle, EMDR allowed the continuation of treatmentas-usual. Our review suggests that it is a safe and economical therapeutic option, and its effect in nonpathological situations opens new avenues for translational research. Overall more methodologically rigorous studies are needed.
Format
Journal
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Scelles, C., & Bulnes, L. C. (2021, September). EMDR as therapy for conditions other than PTSD: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 644369. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.644369
Citation
“EMDR as therapy for conditions other than PTSD: A systematic review,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 17, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/26607.