How Does Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy Work? A Systematic Review on Suggested Mechanisms of Action
Background: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing [EMDR] is an innovative, evidence-based and effective psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]. As with other psychotherapies, the effectiveness of EMDR contrasts with a limited knowledge of its underlying mechanism of action....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01395/full |
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| author | Ramon Landin-Romero Ramon Landin-Romero Ana Moreno-Alcazar Ana Moreno-Alcazar Ana Moreno-Alcazar Marco Pagani Benedikt L. Amann Benedikt L. Amann Benedikt L. Amann Benedikt L. Amann |
| author_facet | Ramon Landin-Romero Ramon Landin-Romero Ana Moreno-Alcazar Ana Moreno-Alcazar Ana Moreno-Alcazar Marco Pagani Benedikt L. Amann Benedikt L. Amann Benedikt L. Amann Benedikt L. Amann |
| author_sort | Ramon Landin-Romero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing [EMDR] is an innovative, evidence-based and effective psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]. As with other psychotherapies, the effectiveness of EMDR contrasts with a limited knowledge of its underlying mechanism of action. In its relatively short life as a therapeutic option, EMDR has not been without controversy, in particular regarding the role of the bilateral stimulation as an active component of the therapy. The high prevalence of EMDR in clinical practice and the dramatic increase in EMDR research in recent years, with more than 26 randomized controlled trials published to date, highlight the need for a better understanding of its mechanism of action.Methods: We conducted a thorough systematic search of studies published until January 2018, using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Knowledge and Scopus databases that examined the mechanism of action of EMDR or provided conclusions within the framework of current theoretical models of EMDR functioning.Results: Eighty-seven studies were selected for review and classified into three overarching models; (i) psychological models (ii) psychophysiological models and (iii) neurobiological models. The evidence available from each study was analyzed and discussed. Results demonstrated a reasonable empirical support for the working memory hypothesis and for the physiological changes associated with successful EMDR therapy. Recently, more sophisticated structural and functional neuroimaging studies using high resolution structural and temporal techniques are starting to provide preliminary evidence into the neuronal correlates before, during and after EMDR therapy.Discussion: Despite the increasing number of studies that published in recent years, the research into the mechanisms underlying EMDR therapy is still in its infancy. Studies in well-defined clinical and non-clinical populations, larger sample sizes and tighter methodological control are further needed in order to establish firm conclusions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:41:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c05f0b5116dc4492abf1ebbcb3142355 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:41:42Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c05f0b5116dc4492abf1ebbcb31423552022-12-21T18:50:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782018-08-01910.3389/fpsyg.2018.01395286360How Does Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy Work? A Systematic Review on Suggested Mechanisms of ActionRamon Landin-Romero0Ramon Landin-Romero1Ana Moreno-Alcazar2Ana Moreno-Alcazar3Ana Moreno-Alcazar4Marco Pagani5Benedikt L. Amann6Benedikt L. Amann7Benedikt L. Amann8Benedikt L. Amann9Brain and Mind Centre and School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaInstitut de Neuropsiquiatria i Addiccions, Centre Fòrum Research Unit, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, SpainIMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, SpainCentro de Investigación Biomedica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, SpainInstitute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, CNR, Rome, ItalyInstitut de Neuropsiquiatria i Addiccions, Centre Fòrum Research Unit, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, SpainIMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, SpainCentro de Investigación Biomedica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainBackground: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing [EMDR] is an innovative, evidence-based and effective psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]. As with other psychotherapies, the effectiveness of EMDR contrasts with a limited knowledge of its underlying mechanism of action. In its relatively short life as a therapeutic option, EMDR has not been without controversy, in particular regarding the role of the bilateral stimulation as an active component of the therapy. The high prevalence of EMDR in clinical practice and the dramatic increase in EMDR research in recent years, with more than 26 randomized controlled trials published to date, highlight the need for a better understanding of its mechanism of action.Methods: We conducted a thorough systematic search of studies published until January 2018, using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Knowledge and Scopus databases that examined the mechanism of action of EMDR or provided conclusions within the framework of current theoretical models of EMDR functioning.Results: Eighty-seven studies were selected for review and classified into three overarching models; (i) psychological models (ii) psychophysiological models and (iii) neurobiological models. The evidence available from each study was analyzed and discussed. Results demonstrated a reasonable empirical support for the working memory hypothesis and for the physiological changes associated with successful EMDR therapy. Recently, more sophisticated structural and functional neuroimaging studies using high resolution structural and temporal techniques are starting to provide preliminary evidence into the neuronal correlates before, during and after EMDR therapy.Discussion: Despite the increasing number of studies that published in recent years, the research into the mechanisms underlying EMDR therapy is still in its infancy. Studies in well-defined clinical and non-clinical populations, larger sample sizes and tighter methodological control are further needed in order to establish firm conclusions.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01395/fulleye movement desensitization and reprocessingmechanism of actioneye movementsbilateral stimulationsystematic review |
| spellingShingle | Ramon Landin-Romero Ramon Landin-Romero Ana Moreno-Alcazar Ana Moreno-Alcazar Ana Moreno-Alcazar Marco Pagani Benedikt L. Amann Benedikt L. Amann Benedikt L. Amann Benedikt L. Amann How Does Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy Work? A Systematic Review on Suggested Mechanisms of Action Frontiers in Psychology eye movement desensitization and reprocessing mechanism of action eye movements bilateral stimulation systematic review |
| title | How Does Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy Work? A Systematic Review on Suggested Mechanisms of Action |
| title_full | How Does Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy Work? A Systematic Review on Suggested Mechanisms of Action |
| title_fullStr | How Does Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy Work? A Systematic Review on Suggested Mechanisms of Action |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Does Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy Work? A Systematic Review on Suggested Mechanisms of Action |
| title_short | How Does Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy Work? A Systematic Review on Suggested Mechanisms of Action |
| title_sort | how does eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy work a systematic review on suggested mechanisms of action |
| topic | eye movement desensitization and reprocessing mechanism of action eye movements bilateral stimulation systematic review |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01395/full |
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