Discussions of EMDR protocols

• Inpatient EMDR by Ed Tryk, 1/20/98
  
  

Thank you for posting about your use of EMDR with inpatients. It would be wonderful if you could write up your findings for publication. The first step in widespread acceptance in this era of managed care includes the publication of individual cases, then case series, then controlled research. An article documenting your use of EMDR with inpatients would be a most welcome addition to the literature. A recent article described seven consecutive cases of body dysmorphic disorder (Brown, McGoldrick & Buchanan, 1997, Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 25, 203-207) and could serve as a useful writing guide. I would merely suggest adding more detail about the treatment protocols for the general reader.

While EMDR has been extensively researched with PTSD in controlled studies, little has been published about the effect with homocidal ideation. The application of EMDR with depression, chronic pain, and somatic disorders has been clinically validated through extensive anecdotal feedback, but at various levels of publication and research. The only study to appear so far with pain patients has been:

Hassard, A. (1995) Investigation of Eye Movement Desensitization in Pain Clinic Patients. Behavioural and Cogntive Psychotherapy, 23, 177-185.

A variety of controlled studies with PTSD patients have documented a decline in depression on standard psychometrics (e.g., Marcus, Marquis & Sakai, 1997; Wilson, Becker & Tinker, 1995, 1997). While clinicians have reported excellent results with the application of EMDR to various forms of depression, there have been no separate publications on the topic.

Somatic applications are covered through cases in my 1997 book EMDR (BasicBooks), and the protocols described in my 1995 textbook.

I will also forward your post to the EMDR Institute discussion list. If you have trained with the Institute let me also recommend your joining that forum to discuss your applications in detail with other EMDR trained clinicians. Information about subscribing to the discussion is available at http://www.emdr.com

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