EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to briefly focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. Ongoing research supports positive clinical outcomes showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences.
How does EMDR therapy affect the brain?
Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed without help.
Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved.
Francine Shapiro is the founder of EMDR. www.EMDRIA.org
Francine Shapiro and Gina Rubini EMDRIA Washington Oct4-7 2012
QU'EST-CE QUE LA THÉRAPIE EMDR ?
L'EMDR est une thérapie structurée qui encourage le patient à se concentrer brièvement sur le souvenir du traumatisme tout en subissant simultanément une stimulation bilatérale (généralement des mouvements oculaires), qui est associée à une réduction de la vivacité et de l'émotion associées aux souvenirs du traumatisme. La thérapie de désensibilisation et de retraitement des mouvements oculaires (EMDR) est une méthode de psychothérapie efficace et largement étudiée qui a prouvé qu'elle aidait les personnes à se remettre d'un traumatisme et des symptômes du SSPT. Les recherches en cours soutiennent des résultats cliniques positifs montrant que la thérapie EMDR est un traitement utile pour des troubles tels que l'anxiété, la dépression, le TOC, la douleur chronique, les dépendances et d'autres expériences de vie pénibles.
COMMENT ÇA FONCTIONNE?
Notre cerveau a un moyen naturel de se remettre de souvenirs et d'événements traumatisants. Ce processus implique la communication entre l'amygdale (le signal d'alarme pour les événements stressants), l'hippocampe (qui aide à l'apprentissage, y compris les souvenirs de sécurité et de danger) et le cortex préfrontal (qui analyse et contrôle le comportement et les émotions). Bien que les expériences traumatisantes puissent souvent être gérées et résolues spontanément, elles peuvent ne pas être traitées sans aide. Les réponses au stress font partie de nos instincts naturels de combat, de fuite ou de blocage. Lorsque la détresse d'un événement perturbateur persiste, les images, les pensées et les émotions bouleversantes peuvent créer un sentiment accablant d'être de retour à ce moment-là ou d'être "figé dans le temps". La thérapie EMDR aide le cerveau à traiter ces souvenirs et permet à la guérison normale de reprendre. L'expérience est toujours mémorisée, mais la réponse de combat, de fuite ou de gel de l'événement d'origine est résolue.
Francine Shapiro est la fondatrice du EMDR. www.emdria.org
Who can benefit from EMDR therapy?
EMDR therapy helps children and adults of all ages. Therapists use EMDR therapy to address a wide range of challenges:
- Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
- Chronic Illness and medical issues
- Depression and bipolar disorders
- Dissociative disorders
- Eating disorders
- Grief and loss
- Pain
- Performance anxiety
- Personality disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma and stress-related issues
- Sexual assault
- Sleep disturbance
- Substance abuse and addiction
- Violence and abuse
Qui peut bénéficier de la thérapie EMDR ?
La thérapie EMDR aide les enfants et les adultes de tous âges. Les thérapeutes utilisent la thérapie EMDR pour relever un large éventail de défis :
- Anxiété, crises de panique et phobies
- Maladie chronique et problèmes médicaux
- Dépression et troubles bipolaires
- Troubles dissociatifs
- Troubles de l'alimentation
- Deuil et perte La douleur
- Anxiété de performance
- Troubles de la personnalité
- Trouble de stress post-traumatique (TSPT) et autres problèmes liés aux traumatismes et au stress
- Agression sexuelle
- Trouble du sommeil
- Toxicomanie et dépendance
- Violence et maltraitance
Treatment Guidelines Listing EMDR Therapy
US Guidelines
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American Psychological Association, Division 12, Society of Clinical Psychology. A Guide to Beneficial Psychotherapy. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Department of Veterans Affair & Department of Defense. The Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Work Group. (2017). VA/DoD clinical practice guideline for the management of post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder [PDF]. Office of Quality and Performance publication. doi:10Q-CPG/PTSD-04 VA/DoD Treatment Guidelines: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
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International Guidelines
Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health. (2007). Australian Guidelines for the Treatment of Adults With Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Melbourne, Victoria: ACPMH.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. (2007). Psychological Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Issue 4.
Clinical Resource Efficiency Support Team (2003). The Management of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Adults. Belfast: Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services, and Public Safety.
Dutch National Steering Committee for Mental Health Care. (2003). Multidisciplinary Guideline Anxiety Disorders. Utrecht, Netherlands: Quality Institute Health
Care CBO/Trimbos Institute.
Phelps, A. J., Lethbridge, R., & Brennan…, S. (2021). Australian guidelines for the prevention and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: Updates in the third edition. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. doi:10.1177/00048674211041917
Foa, E. B., Keane, T. M., Friedman, M. J., Cohen, J. A., & International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. (2009). Effective Treatments for PTSD: Practice Guidelines From the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale. (2004). Psychotherapy: An Evaluation of Three Approaches. Paris, France: French National Institute of Health and Medical Research.
(2018). ISTSS PTSD Prevention and Treatment Guidelines Methodology and Recommendations.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. (2007). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
Sjöblom, P.O., Andréewitch, S. Bejerot, S., Mörtberg, E., Brinck, U., Ruck, C., & Körlin, D. (2003) Regional Treatment Recommendation for Anxiety Disorders.
Stockholm, Sweden: Medical Program Committee/Stockholm City Council.
United Kingdom Department of Health. (2001). Treatment Choice in Psychological Therapies and Counseling: Evidence Based Clinical Practice Guideline. London, England.
World Health Organization and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Assessment and Management of Conditions Specifically Related to Stress: mhGAP Intervention Guide Module (version 1.0). Geneva: WHO, 2013.
World Health Organization. Guidelines for the management of conditions specifically related to stress. Geneva: WHO, 2013.
Meta-Analyses of EMDR Therapy
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Carletto, S., Malandrone, F., Berchialla, P., Oliva, F., Colombi, N., Hase, M., . Ostacoli, L. (2021). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1), 1894736. doi:10.1080/20008198.2021.1894736
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