Emdr Limitations.

[PerfectlyFlawed]

That's good information to know. Thank you Anthony!

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Well, seeing as how EMDR does not work for everyone with PTSD, or even everyone with simple PTSD, it cannot be called a cure. And while it can help, I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who did emdr, and emdr alone and is now PTSD free.

 

[Dewline]

Speaking from experience, I wouldn't recommend EMDR. I experienced eye pain and was encouraged to continue. I still have occasional eye pain, wierd head pain and body memories. There is a danger of being flooded and pre-existing medical conditions should be considered. I had a deriative of EMDR, known as OEI or one eye integration. It is now called observed experiential integration. It is supposed to be a gentler form of EMDR, but I learned from my own research and experience that the technqiue can be traumatic. Shapiro writes that anyone with eye pain should not continue and anyone with prior eye problems should see a doctor first to assess if eye muscles can handle continuous movement.

 

[anthony]

EMDR is often not done with eye movements nowadays... as the eye movements have been disproved as inconsequential to EMDR, hence EMDR got downgraded from Shapiro's claims to being another form of exposure therapy. Many independent studies validate that the results are identical / near identical, without the eye movements, and/or replaced by sound, touch and other sensory stimuli to act as a distraction.

EMDR is purely a form of exposure therapy now... nothing more, nothing less. They cannot validate that the external stimuli has any real benefit to the outcome, after many many studies, as the same outcomes are achieved with EMDR without the external stimuli / near identical results (obvious negligible differences due to patient changes).

 

[StandHopeful]

I have not done a significant amount of research on EMDR but I do know it seems to be working in the case of my husband. With so many years of undiagnosed and misdiagnosed PTSD I thought we were never going to find someone to help us. Do I think it'll cure him? I don't know. All I know is right now, he seems to be getting better and is working towards his own recovery. That itself is a Godsend.

 

[anthony]

Good to hear SH.... it is one of only four tier 1 therapies for PTSD... so it's one of the best.

There is no one therapy method that will effectively and completely treat PTSD. You have to use a diverse range of many therapies in order to effectively treat PTSD... knowingly or not. Most therapists are actually using a diverse range in daily sessions every day, even though they may state one is the primary, they will use several types. Even with EMDR...

 

[StandHopeful]

I figured that is what is going on Anthony as he only does the EMDR "stuff" every 3-4 sessions. The other sessions they are dealing with what "came out" in the prior sessions. What are tier 1 therapies. Or is that a super long answer I should go research myself? :)

 

[anthony]

Tier 1 therapies are a classification of approved therapies, by the APA, US VA, DOD, etc, that have been empirically validated to treat PTSD. They have undertaken both longevity data analysis, neuroimaging and other means, to be proven as the most effective because they correctly treat the correct areas of the brain specific to trauma. They are:

1. Cognitive Trauma Therapy
2. Prolonged Exposure Therapy
3. Stress Inoculation Therapy (Stress Management)
4. EMDR

The first three typically makeup what is often referred to as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). However, nowadays CBT is typically used as an umbrella term, that defines a list of therapies underneath it which all use the CBT model, outside of EMDR, which is primarily exposure therapy.

This is why this page exists: [DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/removing-therapy-type-confusion.15534/[/DLMURL]

It removes type confusion, as technically, the other forms mentioned under the umbrella of CBT, use the exact same model, though there focus is usually in a specific area, ie. ACT (substance abuse), DBT (personality disorders), etc. Those listed in the link, but not specifically as Tier 1, are technically CBT using the first three Tier 1 models, though they have differentiated a little to a specific treatment area that is not solely PTSD related, yet all are effectively as equal.

 

[maddog]

I am heartened to consider the fact that EMDR is proving to be beneficial without the eye movements. I am totally blind, and so the prospect of needing to rely on any form of visual stimulus poses obvious and significant problems for me.

T and I have discussed the potential of EMDR and he is keen to explore its other forms and methods.

Just as soon as he gets trained, I imagine we'll give it a go.

I'm happy to be convinced of its utility, eye movements or not.

Maddog