scholarly journals Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. MacCulloch

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) was described by Shapiro (1989a,b) as a new method for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In May 1987, while walking in the park, Shapiro noticed that her own disturbing thoughts changed then disappeared “without any conscious effort” (Shapiro, 1995) when they had been temporally paired with diagonal upward to and fro eye movements. Over the next six months Shapiro worked with approximately 70 people to develop a procedure based on the temporal pairing of distressing images and thoughts with various eye movements. Shapiro began to develop strategies to unblock stalled emotional processing, which was initiated by EMDR in non-patients. She successfully tried the method on a Vietnam veteran suffering from severe PTSD and then embarked upon a trial of EMDR on a mixed group of victims of rape, molestation and Vietnam combat trauma. Initially, EMDR achieved wide recognition as a new breakthrough treatment for PTSD. This was, in part, because of very positive early reports (e.g. Wolpe & Abrams, 1991), but also because the EMDR effect appeared to occur with unprecedented speed, often in cases of PTSD that had previously resisted treatment by many other methods over a long period.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Esra Teke ◽  
Selahattin Avşaroğlu

The purpose of the present study is to examine the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for children and adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For this purpose, a framework was determined by using findings of the research and explanations at the conceptual level. PTSD is a mental disorder that is experienced after traumatic events, affects individuals cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally and threatens the integrity of an individual's life. EMDR therapy is a therapy that imaginatively reveals the past or traumatic experiences of the client through eye movements and other bilateral stimuli (two-way sound or tactile stimulus), facilitates information processing processes. Whereas EMDR was initially an approach developed for adults, it was later used for children and adolescents. The fact that it gives positive results in a short time and these positive results continue in follow-up studies has increased the interest in using EMDR for children and adolescents with PTSD. The use of EMDR for children and adolescents has allowed their problems to be resolved in a timely manner and reduced PTSD symptoms. This situation has drawn attention to the importance of using EMDR in the practice of psychological counselors working in school environments, leading places where they work with children and adolescents, and where the first preventive and interventional studies are carried out. Therefore, it is considered that the use of EMDR will be functional in overcoming these negative life experiences of many students who have been directly or indirectly exposed to traumatic experiences during the COVID-19 epidemic period.


1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 288-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew C. Page ◽  
Rocco D. Crino

Eye-movement desensitisation has been identified in a number of case studies to be an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A further case study reporting success is presented. The treatment appears rapid and may represent a potentially cost-effective treatment for PTSD. However, no treatment study to date has conformed to the ideal methodology of a double-blind placebo controlled trial and therefore its efficacy remains to be demonstrated. A minimal but stringent set of criteria for identification of treatment efficacy are outlined. The implications of eye-movement desensitisation being identified as an effective treatment for PTSD are discussed.


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