Treatment of eating disorder with EMDR therapy: Why and how

A transdiagnostic approach of eating disorders was introduced by Fairburn (2003), resulting in a program of CBT-E(nhanced), which has been validated empirically and proved to be more successful than other widely used forms of treatment, both for adults and for adolescents (Dalle Grave et al, 2020). Clinical practice has demonstrated that EMDR therapy - as an add on therapy - seems effective for the treatment of core symptoms, described in this approach (like fears related to eating, urge-driven binge eating or compensatory behaviors) as well as sustaining factors (like clinical perfectionism, negative body-perception, anticipated consequences of feared changes). A transdiagnostic perspective on treatment was introduced by Shapiro (2001) with the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, underlying EMDR therapy. For different forms of psychopathology different types of targets are relevant. Several strategies for identification and selection of relevant targets have been developed by Dutch trainers in the past years. Based on these theoretical perspectives and on clinical practice an EMDR- Eating Disorder (EMDR-ED) protocol has been developed (Beer, 2019), applicable to adults and adolescents. Several studies are now taking place in the Netherlands, exploring its feasibility and efficacy. This presentation will introduce the EMDR-ED protocol, clarify the rationale for it, explain how the 8 phases and the 3 prongs are integrated, giving the EMDR practitioner an impression how this protocol can give guidance on integration of EMDR therapy in the treatment of a patient with an eating disorder.

Conference

English

Renee Beer

Beer, R. (2023, May). Treatment of eating disorder with EMDR therapy: Why and how. Virtual presentation at the EMDRAA Conference, Melbourne Victoria, Australia