Eye Movement Reprocessing Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is a treatment program that focuses on reducing the negative emotions attached to an individual’s memories from a traumatic event. Shapiro explains that this eight phase process starts with developing a detailed client history and developing a treatment plan; patient preparation for using EMDR; identifying the target issues that need to be addressed; desensitizing the identified issues with “eye movements or an alternate form of stimulation”; introducing and “installing the desired positive cognition”; assessing the body to ensure that there is not any “residual material” from the targeted issues; “closure and re-evaluation” (Edmond et al, 1999). This process allows the patient

Overall, the research has shown that EMDR, sometimes in combination with other therapy forms, have proven to be successful in the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Borderline Personality (BPD), as well as other non-specific psychosis symptoms. A review of the current literature will demonstrate that while there has been clinically significant improvements in patients with these disorders, it will also demonstrate that there is a gap in the literature addressing PTSD and substance/alcohol abuse. This literature review will summarize some of the available literature that discusses the effects of EMDR on PTSD and comorbid psychoses. The findings are organized into two subsections: EMDR and PTSD: Research support for the use of EMDR in diverse populations; EMDR and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Research support for the use of EMDR with PTSD and comorbidity. Finally, the conclusion will discuss the limited information that is available on using EMDR and substance/alcohol abuse

“RDI refers to a set of EMDR-related protocols which focus exclusively on strengthening the connection to resources in functional (positive) ‘memory networks’ while deliberately not stimulating dysfunctional (traumatic) memory networks” (p. 1469). This protocol was used during the “stabilization phase” of their treatment (p. 1472). The participants attended three ninety-minute weekly sessions. The results showed clinically significant changes in both participants. These results were maintained at the one-month follow-up. The results of this study, while positive, cannot be considered as more than anecdotal because of the very limited number of participants and restrictive diagnostic criteria. However, the results do point to the possible effectiveness of EMDR RDI in treating Complex