EMDR (eye Movements) Therapy: Applications And Effectiveness
In recent years, the use of EMDR therapy in cases of post-traumatic stress and other disorders, mainly related to anxiety, has become popular. It basically consists of moving your eyes to follow the therapist’s fingers while remembering a disturbing event; According to its author, Francine Shapiro, this favors emotional processing.
In this article we will talk about the mechanisms of action, The main applications and effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy We will especially stop at comparing it with prolonged live exposure, the classic treatment of choice to treat the symptoms of many anxiety disorders.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy is better known by its acronym, “EMDR” (“Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing”). Nevertheless, Some Spanish-speaking authors refer to this intervention as “DRMO therapy.” adapting the abbreviation to Spanish.
This is a relatively recent psychological treatment. It was developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980s around the hypothesis that certain types of eye movements are useful for reducing the emotional intensity caused by negative thoughts, such as traumatic memories.
The procedure that psychotherapists must follow when using EMDR consists of moving fingers in front of the client’s face, who in turn has to move his eyes to focus his gaze at all times on the clinician’s fingers. Meanwhile, this will make the person you are treating focus on specific mental contents in order to process them.
The EMDR program is structured in eight phases. Each of them focuses on a different moment in time: the present, the past or the future. The sessions last a maximum of 1 and a half hours and begin with the induction of negative thoughts, but these are progressively replaced by others with a more pleasant emotional tone.
Applications of this intervention
EMDR therapy is especially applied in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder, which appears as a consequence of traumatic experiences that endanger one’s own life or that of other people. Some of the most relevant risk factors are rape and other physical abuse, war, traffic accidents or threats with weapons.
However, this intervention program has also been used in people with other anxiety disorders, such as specific phobias and panic attacks, with addictions of different types and with eating disorders.
Several meta-analyses support the use of EMDR for goals similar to those of exposure therapy, such as in the case of post-traumatic stress disorder. However, the peculiarity of this method, the lack of clarity of its mechanisms and certain methodological problems The research on this subject makes many professionals question it.
What is your mecanism of action?
According to Shapiro herself and her followers, EMDR therapy is effective because rhythmic eye movements make negatively emotionally charged memories less disturbing when both factors operate simultaneously. Therefore, it is an unusual psychological therapy since it is not based on conversation.
Other authors consider that EMDR is nothing more than a type of exposure therapy in the imagination. The effectiveness of this type of intervention is somewhat lower than that of live exposure, although they are also more tolerable for clients and can be applied to problems in which live exposure is not viable (for example, phobia of riding a bicycle). plane).
In general, we can affirm that, whatever the mechanism of action of EMDR, it seems to be an effective treatment. What is not so clear at the moment is whether it is possible distinguish it from other procedures based on prolonged exposure to stimuli that generate anxiety or other types of discomfort.
Are you looking for professional assistance through EMDR therapy?
If you live in the Madrid area and are interested in attending EMDR therapy, one of the recommended options that you can count on is the therapy center El Prado Psychologists, which has 3 offices in the capital of Spain: Calle de Cervantes nº 9, Calle de Núñez de Balboa nº 42 and Calle de Espalter nº13. Its team of professionals, made up of psychologists and psychiatrists, has a long history of caring for patients, and offers a free first session. Their contact details are available here.
