Preliminary neurophysiological evidences of attachment and the role of EMDR in the treatment of anorexia nervosa
Description
Background and aims
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is recognized to have a multifactorial etiology. One important developmental factor is attachment, which is thought to be the basis for emotion and self-regulation. While there is evidence of EMDR effectiveness in restoring emotional regulation in PTSD, less is known about EMDR-mediated improvement in AN patients. Furthermore, knowledge of neurophysiological underpinnings of attachment in AN patients is still exiguous. Information about neurophysiological correlates of traumatic attachment could help identify patient characteristics and establish treatment interventions.
Methods
We compared high-density scalp EEG activity before and after the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) in a group of AN patients. Patients were then randomly assigned to CBT or EMDR treatment. EEG recording was repeated four months after the beginning of CBT or EMDR sessions and as follow-up, six months after the completion of psychotherapy treatment. The results presented are part of a larger experimental design entitled "Comparison of EMDR with CBT for the treatment of anorexia nervosa".
Results
The preliminary results of the study suggest specific neurophysiological modulation after AAI administration at the different time points and in specific frequency bands.
Conclusions
Although the two therapeutic approaches, EMDR and CBT, are comparable in terms of efficacy, the specific electrophysiological response may be related to the therapeutic approaches, suggesting a possible role of the individual AAI time-frequency response at baseline.
Abstract topic
EMDR neurophysiology, Anorexia nervosa,
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is recognized to have a multifactorial etiology. One important developmental factor is attachment, which is thought to be the basis for emotion and self-regulation. While there is evidence of EMDR effectiveness in restoring emotional regulation in PTSD, less is known about EMDR-mediated improvement in AN patients. Furthermore, knowledge of neurophysiological underpinnings of attachment in AN patients is still exiguous. Information about neurophysiological correlates of traumatic attachment could help identify patient characteristics and establish treatment interventions.
Methods
We compared high-density scalp EEG activity before and after the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) in a group of AN patients. Patients were then randomly assigned to CBT or EMDR treatment. EEG recording was repeated four months after the beginning of CBT or EMDR sessions and as follow-up, six months after the completion of psychotherapy treatment. The results presented are part of a larger experimental design entitled "Comparison of EMDR with CBT for the treatment of anorexia nervosa".
Results
The preliminary results of the study suggest specific neurophysiological modulation after AAI administration at the different time points and in specific frequency bands.
Conclusions
Although the two therapeutic approaches, EMDR and CBT, are comparable in terms of efficacy, the specific electrophysiological response may be related to the therapeutic approaches, suggesting a possible role of the individual AAI time-frequency response at baseline.
Abstract topic
EMDR neurophysiology, Anorexia nervosa,
Format
Conference
Language
English
Original Work Citation
del Guidice, R., Baccara, A., Dibenedetto, C., Garnero, A. Carrara, C., Anselmetti, S., Civilotti, C., Bertelli, S., & D'Agostino, A. (2023, June). Preliminary neurophysiological evidences of attachment and the role of EMDR in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Presentation at the EMDR Europe Conference, Bologna, Italy
Citation
“Preliminary neurophysiological evidences of attachment and the role of EMDR in the treatment of anorexia nervosa,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 16, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/28209.