EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

THE RESEARCH:

The treatment of traumatic events with the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) method is based upon the hypothesis that there is a physiological component to each complaint.

It is posited that when an incident occurs that is "traumatic," the excitatory/inhibitory balance, which is necessary for information processing to occur is disturbed. This traumatization causes an over-excitation of a specific locus of the brain and an actual neural pathology occurs (Pavlov, 1927).

As applied to the present concern, this pathology may be said to "freeze" the information in its original anxiety-producing form, complete with the original image, negative self-assessment, and affect. Incapable of being processed to adaptive completion, this information continues to be sparked in pathologies such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares (Shapiro, 1989a).

These physiological events are apparently countered by the eye movements themselves, which may reestablish the excitatory/inhibitory balance, permitting the "frozen" information to be desensitized, processed, and adaptively integrated (cf. Shapiro, l989a).

When applied in a particular way, this seems to cause a cessation of pronounced PTSD symptomatology after an EMDR treatment. Apparently, the full information processing is catalyzed by the method, resulting in a diffusion of the traumatic imagery and a complete cognitive restructuring, along with a neutralizing of the negative affect (Shapiro, l989a, l989b). Thus once processed and integrated, there is seemingly nothing negative to which to return.

The complete EMDR treatment involves a three-pronged approach. The therapist must:

1. address the original incident that established the cognitive/affective framework,
2. elicit the present internal and environmental triggers that stimulate the maladaptive behavior, and
3. install a desirable cognitive/behavioral response, thereby, increasing the client¹s sense of self efficacy.

While the first two are necessary in order to desensitize the anxiety-response, the third (installations) allows a new pattern to be established imaginally which increases the likelihood of a long-term therapeutic effect in vivo.

REFERENCES:

a. Pavlov, I.P. (l927). Conditioned Reflexes, G.V. Anrep (Trans.), New York.
b. Shapiro, Francine (1995). EMDR: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures. New York: The Guilford Press.
c. Shapiro, Francine (l990) EMDR Level 1 Training Manual.