EMDR Is Gaining Ground In Mainstream Medicine
Have you heard the phrase "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is?" EMDR just might be one of those rare exceptions to that rule.
A relatively new therapy known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is being used for disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with astonishingly rapid results in many patients. The EMDR Institute reports that studies show that a single trauma can be processed within 80-90% of patients within three treatments. When it typically takes months or years of cognitive behavioral therapy to lessen the effects of PTSD, the claims that PTSD can work so effectively and quickly naturally raise a few eyebrows. However, EMDR appears to be gaining some respect in the medical community.
The history of EMDR is an interesting one. One day California psychologist, Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. was taking a walk in the woods while mulling over some distressing thoughts. She reported her eyes were darting back and forth as she walked. Afterwards she noticed that the same memories seemed less stressful. She then attempted to replicate this effect with her patients, and EMDR was born.
EMDR uses an eight-phase technique. During treatment in the office the patient will think about the stressful memory (such as a rape or automobile accident) as the EMDR-trained therapist rapidly moves his finger from side to side. The patient simultaneously follows the finger with his eyes, and the result is often decreased distress associated with the memory.
Why EMDR appears successful in many patients remains a bit of a mystery. One theory is that the technique replicates the movement of the eyes during REM sleep. REM sleep is the phase of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement during which the mind processes memories.
Critics of EMDR have noted that other therapies, such as tapping and sound therapy, can also produce a similar effect to EMDR. Some have stated that the early studies were unscientific and unconvincing. Others have cited that Dr. Shapiro's doctoral degree was from an unaccredited school.
However, an increasing body of research and reports of success are raising the acceptance of EMDR in the mainstream medical community. The American Psychological Association and the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies both approved the use of EMDR in 1999. Furthermore, EMDR practitioners are reporting that the benefits of EMDR are lasting and treat not only PTSD, but also depression, anxiety, and more.
For a patient suffering from distressing thoughts, EMDR may be worth investigating.
More Info:
EMDR International Association
Finger-Flash Therapy Catches On
Does EMDR Work for PTSD in Just 5 Sessions?
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