EMDR combines stimuli that evoke divided attention – e.g. eye movements – with exposure to traumatic memories. Our objective was to investigate psycho-physiological correlates of EMDR during treatment sessions. A total of 55 treatment sessions from 10 patients with PTSD was monitored applying impedance cardiography. Onset of every stimulation/exposure period (n=811) was marked and effects within and across stimulation sets on heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), pre-ejection period (PEP) and respiration rate were examined. At stimulation onsets a sharp increase of HRV and a significant decrease of HR was noticed indicating de-arousal. During ongoing stimulation, PEP and HRV decreased significantly while respiration rate significantly increased, indicating stress-related arousal. However, across entire sessions a significant decrease of psycho-physiological activity was noticed, evidenced by progressively decreasing HR and increasing HRV. These findings suggest that EMDR is associated with patterns of autonomic activity associated with substantial psycho-physiological de-arousal over time.
Published: 2008-10-01
Alterations in autonomic tone during trauma exposure using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)—Results of a preliminary investigation
Martin Sack, Wolfgang Lempa, Adrian Steinmetz, Friedhelm Lamprecht, Arne Hofmann
EMDR, Impedance cardiography, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Psychophysiology
- Item Type: journalArticle
- Publication Title: Journal of Anxiety Disorders
- Volume: 22
- Pages: 1264-1271
- Series:
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- Journal Abbreviation: Journal of Anxiety Disorders
- DOI: /10.1016/j.janxdis.2008.01.007
- ISSN: 0887-6185
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- Library Catalog: ScienceDirect
