25 years of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): The EMDR therapy protocol, hypotheses of its mechanism of action and a systematic review of its efficacy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

Publication date: April–June 2018Source: Revista de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental (English Edition), Volume 11, Issue 2Author(s): Patricia Novo Navarro, Ramón Landin-Romero, Rocio Guardiola-Wanden-Berghe, Ana Moreno-Alcázar, Alicia Valiente-Gómez, Walter Lupo, Francisca García, Isabel Fernández, Víctor Pérez, Benedikt L. AmannAbstractEye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a relatively new psychotherapy that has gradually gained popularity for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. In the present work, the standardised EMDR protocol is introduced, along with current hypotheses of its mechanism of action, as well as a critical review of the available literature on its clinical effectiveness in adult post-traumatic stress disorder. A systematic review of the published literature was performed using PubMed and PsycINFO databases with the keywords “eye movement desensitization and reprocessing” and “post-traumatic stress disorder” and its abbreviations “EMDR” and “PTSD”. Fifteen randomised controlled trials of good methodological quality were selected. These studies compared EMDR with unspecific interventions, waiting lists, or specific therapies. Overall, the results of these studies suggest that EMDR is a useful, evidence-based tool for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, in line with recent recommendations from different international health organisations.ResumenEl tratamiento de desensibilización y reprocesamiento...
Source: Revista de Psiquiatria y Salud Mental - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research