Rapid remission of trauma-related somatic pain with a single session of EMDR: A case report

Trauma-related somatic symptoms are common complaints in the psychiatric and general medical community. These somatic complaints often lead to repeated consultations and unnecessary investigations. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), originally developed as a treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is increasingly being applied to the treatment of a wide range of trauma-related conditions. This report describes a 47-year-old man who complained of persistent pain in his left upper arm immediately after the death of his mother. Despite many evaluations in orthopedics, neurology and physical therapy, no organic pathology was identified regarding the patient's complaint. In this case, after a single EMDR session, the patient's pain disappeared completely and did not recur. This case highlights the potential of EMDR as a rapid, safe, and effective intervention for trauma-related somatic complaints.

Journal

English

Kübra Özcan Çetin
Mehmet Rıdvan Varl
Çiğdem Kınık

Özcan Çetin, K., Varlı, M. R. , & Kınık, Ç. (2025). Rapid remission of trauma-related somatic pain with a single session of EMDR: A case report. Turkish Journal of Traumatic Stress, 1(3), 176-181. doi:10.63175/tjts.38