Re:Opioid Antagonist and EMDR

This is based on preliminary data of a series of case studies. It is not published at this time but the data were presented by Dr. R. Ferrie and myself at the EMDRIA conference in 2001 and 2002. Note that this is not a controlled study.

Essentially the findings were that when severe dissociative symptoms, somatization and numbing significantly interfered with EMDR processing, administration of an opioid antagonists allowed trauma processing that had previously been impossible. In addition it appears that it aid stabilization techniques such as different types of relaxation techniques and self soothing skills.

This work is partly based on an article by Bohus et al in J Clin Psychiatry; 1999; 60:598-603; Treatment of Dissociative Symptoms in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder: An Open-Label Trial. This study found a highly significant reduction of the duration and the intensity of dissociative phenomena and tonic immobility as well as a marked reduction in analgesia during treatment with naltrexone. in addition a signifcant number of patients reported a decrease in the mean number of flashbacks per day.

A client of mine who was initially on continuous dose naltrexone was no longer able to take it due to possible need for emergency surgery. However, as they had experienced much improved EMDR processing while on that medication, they used the medication only prior to the session. This led to the series of case studies.

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