EMDR

EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a trauma therapy developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro. She made the chance observation that eye movements can reduce the intensity of the disturbing thoughts when she noticed her own stress reactions diminished when her eyes swept back and forth as she walked through a park one day. EMDR involves recalling a stressful past event and “reprogramming” the memory in the light of a positive, self-chosen belief, while using rapid eye movements to facilitate the process. Theories as to why EMDR works are still evolving, but many people have found EMDR to be extremely beneficial.

Special Precautions of EMDR

EMDR has generated a great deal of controversy since its inception in 1989. Critics of EMDR argue that the eye movements do not play a central role, that the mechanisms of eye movements are speculative, and that the theory leading to the practice is not falsifiable and therefore not amenable to scientific inquiry.
The working mechanisms that underlie the effectiveness of EMDR, and whether the eye movement component in EMDR contributes to its clinical effectiveness are still points of uncertainty and contentious debate.EMDR has generated a great deal of controversy since its inception in 1989. Critics of EMDR argue that the eye movements do not play a central role, that the mechanisms of eye movements are speculative, and that the theory leading to the practice is not falsifiable and therefore not amenable to scientific inquiry.
Although one meta-analysis concluded that EMDR is not as effective, or as long lasting, as traditional exposure therapy, several other researchers using meta-analysis have found EMDR to be at least equivalent in effect size to specific exposure therapies. Despite the treatment procedures being quite different between EMDR and traditional exposure therapy, some authors continue to argue that the main effective component in EMDR is exposure. An early critical review and meta-analysis that looked at the contribution of eye movement to treatment effectiveness in EMDR concluded that eye movement is not necessary to the treatment effect. Salkovskis (2002) reported that the eye movement is irrelevant, and that the effectiveness of the procedure is solely due to its having properties similar to cognitive behavioral therapies, such as desensitization and exposure.
A 2009 review of EMDR suggests that further research with different populations is needed.

Benefits and uses of EMDR are

• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Although most research into EMDR has examined its use in people with PTSD, EMDR is also used to treat many other psychological problems. They include:

• Panic attacks
• Eating disorders
• Addictions
• Anxiety, such as discomfort with public speaking or dental procedures
• borderline personality disorder.