Early stages of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and psychodynamic psychotherapy in patients with eating disorders: A preliminary analysis
Description
Background
Eating Disorders (ED) are serious diseases with significant morbidity and mortality. The approach to treatment is multidisciplinary and psychotherapy is crucial in ED treatments. The aim of the study is to evaluate early stages (first three sessions) of a psychotherapeutic treatment, confronting EMDR with psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Materials and methods
Twenty-five individuals with ED were recruited in the ED Center in Turin, and randomly assigned to EMDR or Psychodynamic psychotherapy. Subjects completed the following tests: EDE-Q; IIP-32; BDI I e II; STAI; CTQ; DERS; DES. Therapists completed the psychodynamic functioning scale (PFS).
Results
The sample of 25 patients with ED consists of: 8 AN-R (32%), 6 AN-BP (24%), 7 BN (28%), 4 atypical AN (16%). In our sample there were no statistically significant correlations between the presence of childhood traumatic events and the severity of eating symptoms. A positive correlation between restriction and dissociation emerges as an indirect measure of the presence of trauma. Therapist evaluation of psychological functioning does not correlate with psychopathology or with the presence of trauma. Unlike T0 tests, in clinical interviews currently underway, therapists are progressively detecting the presence of traumas that patients report not having declared in the initial test.
Discussion
The early stages of psychotherapy in ED are a complex and crucial moment in the treatment pathway. Our study highlighted that therapists may encounter some bias in evaluating the psychological functioning of individuals with ED in the early stage of psychotherapeutic treatments, and the presence of past trauma may not be easily detected in this phase but emerge via indirect characteristics such as dissociation. In the light of the progress of trauma focused psychotherapies we expect the emergence of a greater focus on the traumatic aspects on the part of the patient in the next T1 tests, more in line with the solid literature that correlates ED and trauma
Eating Disorders (ED) are serious diseases with significant morbidity and mortality. The approach to treatment is multidisciplinary and psychotherapy is crucial in ED treatments. The aim of the study is to evaluate early stages (first three sessions) of a psychotherapeutic treatment, confronting EMDR with psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Materials and methods
Twenty-five individuals with ED were recruited in the ED Center in Turin, and randomly assigned to EMDR or Psychodynamic psychotherapy. Subjects completed the following tests: EDE-Q; IIP-32; BDI I e II; STAI; CTQ; DERS; DES. Therapists completed the psychodynamic functioning scale (PFS).
Results
The sample of 25 patients with ED consists of: 8 AN-R (32%), 6 AN-BP (24%), 7 BN (28%), 4 atypical AN (16%). In our sample there were no statistically significant correlations between the presence of childhood traumatic events and the severity of eating symptoms. A positive correlation between restriction and dissociation emerges as an indirect measure of the presence of trauma. Therapist evaluation of psychological functioning does not correlate with psychopathology or with the presence of trauma. Unlike T0 tests, in clinical interviews currently underway, therapists are progressively detecting the presence of traumas that patients report not having declared in the initial test.
Discussion
The early stages of psychotherapy in ED are a complex and crucial moment in the treatment pathway. Our study highlighted that therapists may encounter some bias in evaluating the psychological functioning of individuals with ED in the early stage of psychotherapeutic treatments, and the presence of past trauma may not be easily detected in this phase but emerge via indirect characteristics such as dissociation. In the light of the progress of trauma focused psychotherapies we expect the emergence of a greater focus on the traumatic aspects on the part of the patient in the next T1 tests, more in line with the solid literature that correlates ED and trauma
Format
Conference
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Balbo, M., Picollo. S., Panero, & M., Daga, G. A. (2023, June). Early stages of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and psychodynamic psychotherapy in patients with eating disorders: A preliminary analysis. Presentation at the EMDR Europe Conference, Bologna, Italy
Citation
“Early stages of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and psychodynamic psychotherapy in patients with eating disorders: A preliminary analysis,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 3, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/28217.