Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing

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Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of psychotherapy which claims to relieve the symptoms of Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems using (in its original form) only eye movements similar to those which occur naturally in REM sleep.

Contents

1 Description
2 References
3 See also
4 External links

4.1 Supportive of EMDR
4.2 Critical of EMDR

Description

EMDR was developed by American psychologist Francine Shapiro, PhD in 1987 after she observed, during a walk in a park, that moving her eyes seemed to reduce the stress of disturbing memories. Based on these initial observations she conducted further research and published a paper in 1989 describing beneficial results in a number of case studies.

The therapy originally consisted of the patient being guided by the therapist in moving their eyes in a random way whilst recalling troubling memories. Through this process of reexperiencing such memories, patients were able to resolve them more effectively.

The departure from conventional psychotherapeutic techniques in terms of patient-therapist interaction and claimed speed of results led to initial skepticism in the psychotherapeutic and psychiatric establishment. However, some studies have concluded that it is as effective as other non-specific treatments. The long-term effects are still under study (such as well-practiced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; e.g., Devilly & Spence, 1999^{[#endnote_Devilly]}; Taylor et al., 2004).

Later developments have removed the focus on the eyes and used a number of other bilateral stimuli such as sound and touch, or dual attention stimuli to bring about the effect. Its use has also been extended to include a wide range of conditions. Although the technique has been substantiated through repeated studies and meta-analyses, some in the field of psychology claim that it is non-falsifiable, asserting it should not have scientific status. #redirect

EMDR has been used to children to treat a variety of conditions (Tinker & Wilson, 1999, and Greenwall, 1999)

Dr. Shapiro has been given an award for Distinguished Scientific Achievement in Psychology by the California Psychological Association and in 2002 the International Sigmund Freud Award for Psychotherapy presented by the City of Vienna in conjunction with the World Council for Psychotherapy.

References

↑ [Devilly, G.J., & Spence, S.H. (1999).] The relative efficacy and treatment distress of EMDR and a cognitive behavioral trauma treatment protocol in the amelioration of post traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 13, 131–157.

*Shapiro, F. (1995). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols and Procedures. New York: The Guilford Press.

Tinker, R., & Wilson S., (1999) Through the eyes of a child: EMDR with children. NY: Norton.

Greenwald, R., (1999). Eye movement desentization and reprocessing in child and adolescent psychotherapy. NY: Norton.

External links

Supportive of EMDR

Critical of EMDR

[The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice]
[The Skeptic's Dictionary]
[Quackwatch Blog critical to non-conventional medicine]
[Sudotherapay] A satire of EMDR