Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a form of anxiety disorder which results from experiencing a traumatic event such as war, rape, loss of one's partner, being in a serious accident or affected by a natural disaster. A combination of medication such as antidepressants and psychotherapy (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy or interpersonal therapy) may often be provided for those affected by the disorder.
In addition to prescribing medication and forms of psychotherapy there is a relatively new form of treatment, known as eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), which according to recent research may have real benefits for those who have experienced traumatic events.
What is Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)?
As medication is often recognised as being unsatisfactory in treating symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder an alternative, EMDR, may be a more effective form of treatment.
EMDR is a form of therapy which uses the brain's information processing ability was discovered by Francine Shapiro and is widely used in the US.
How Does EMDR Help PTSD Sufferers?
EMDR is recognised in the US as the top form of treatment for sufferers of PTSD in helping those affected to come to terms with traumatic events. An object is used to get the person's eyes to move back and forth, which imitates the way the brain works during REM sleep, whilst the trauma is talked through with the therapist.
This therapy works by accessing and stimulating the brain's information processing system to work through the trauma and thus let the mind heal and recover. As EMDR may initially result in the patient experiencing both intensive physiological and psychological symptoms it is essential that the therapy is carried out in an environment where the client feels safe and with a specially trained therapist.
Benefits of EMDR in Helping Trauma Sufferers
EMDR has been recognised as an effective form of therapy, providing relatively fast relief from trauma (sometimes within a few sessions) whereas medication and traditional forms of psychotherapy may take many weeks or even months to be effective.
This form of therapy has also been identified as helpful in treating other forms of health conditions including eating disorders, stress-related illness, depression and schizophrenia.
While there is much evidence to suggest that EMDR is a very effective treatment for sufferers of PTSD, it is clear that more research is required to help fully understand the implications this approach may have for other forms of mental illness.
Source:
Plant, J. & Stephenson, J. (2008) Beating Stress, Anxiety & Depression London: Piatkus.
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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