Mindful Continuing Education

1. EMDR therapy utilizes a theoretical framework of Adaptive Information Processing (AIP), which posits that the primary source of psychopathology is the presence of memories of adverse life experiences inadequately processed by the brain.

2. When analyzing the efficacy of EMDR therapy in reducing PTSD symptoms compared to control conditions and other interventions, including CBT, two meta-analyses found EMDR to be:

3. Each of the following is an accurate statement about study findings pertaining to EMDR and depression and anxiety EXCEPT:

4. When assessing the impact of EMDR on psychotic symptoms and social functionally, EMDR was found to be most effective in reducing auditory hallucinations and improving personal social performance.

5. Overall study findings indicated that EMDR therapy was effective with a range of presenting problems and symptoms, and low drop-out rates across all studies indicate that EMDR therapy is well tolerated by clients.

6. Recommendations for future research include incorporating longitudinal evaluation beyond 6 months, analyzing the economic benefits of EMDR therapy in comparison with other trauma-focused interventions, and including comparative studies on the efficacy of EMDR therapy across:

7. EMDR therapy consists of a standard protocol which includes eight phases and bilateral stimulation to desensitize the discomfort caused by traumatic memories, with the aim of achieving reprocessing and integration within the patient’s standard biographical memories.

8. In a study of twenty bipolar patients with subsyndromal symptoms and a history of traumatic events, results showed moderate reductions in affective scores in favor of the EMDR over treatment as usual (TAU) group after treatment, with the most statistically significant results occurring at the 24 weeks follow-up.

9. Research indicates that EMDR might be a helpful tool to facilitate psychological improvement in patients with myocardial infarction who suffer subsequent depressive symptoms, and it may improve:

10. In several studies evaluating the impact of EMDR on specific anxiety disorders, the most favorable results occurred with:

11. EMDR therapy may be a useful therapy for patients with substance use disorders who have a history of traumatic life events, and as an adjuvant psychotherapy to standard treatment of alcohol dependence for helping to decrease cravings.

12. In one RCT that investigated the efficacy of EMDR therapy in the treatment of patients suffering from chronic pain and psychological trauma, efficacy in pain reduction was demonstrated, as measured by pain intensity, disability and:

13. When compared to psychodynamic psychotherapy, group therapy, and psychoeducation therapy, one study demonstrated that EMDR therapy improved memories of stressful life events at onset of depressive episodes, emotional cognitive processing, and long-term memory conceptual organization.