Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has significantly contributed to psychotherapy in the last 30 years. Studies support EMDR as effective for posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. It was also applied to other disorders because it can help resolve and reprocess memories of traumatic experiences that can contribute, as risk, precipitating and predisposing factors to the development of mental disorders. What these disorders have in common is the maladaptive processing of information associated with stressful and pathogenic events. EMDR therapy has given a contribution to psychotherapy as an effective method that can help the innate processing system process all aspects of a traumatic experience. After working with traumatic memories that may be part of the patient's life story, EMDR therapy focuses on current triggers and symptoms and then provides the patient with instruments to deal with future situations that may cause anxiety. While working with this method, it is possible to enhance metacognitive skills and promote a change in dysfunctional emotions, beliefs, and behaviors. These are some common objectives that EMDR therapy shares with most psychotherapy approaches.

IntroductionEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapeutic treatment resolving emotional distress caused by traumatic events. With EMDR, information processing is facilitated by eye movements (EM) during the recall of a traumatic memory (RECALL). The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of ocular movements of EMDR on the hemodynamics of the prefrontal cortex (PFC).Material and MethodsTwo groups were recruited: a trial group (wEM) received a complete EMDR treatment, whereas a control group (woEM) received a therapy without EM. PFC hemodynamics was monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy during RECALL and during focusing on the worst image of the trauma (pre-RECALL). The parameters of oxy- (oxy-Hb), and deoxy-hemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) were acquired and analyzed in time domain, by calculating the slope within pre-RECALL and RECALL periods, and in the frequency domain, by calculating the mean power of oxy-Hb and deoxy-Hb in the very-low frequency (VLF, 20–40 mHz) and low frequency (LF, 40–140 mHz) bandwidths. We compared pre-RECALL with RECALL periods within subjects, and pre-RECALL and RECALL parameters of wEM with the corresponding of woEM.ResultsAn effect of group on mean slope of oxy-Hb and deoxy-Hb in pre-RECALL and oxy-Hb in RECALL periods was observed. wEM showed a lower percentage of positive angular coefficients during pre-RECALL with respect to RECALL, on the opposite of woEM. In the frequency domain, wEM had significant difference in oxy-Hb and deoxy-Hb LF of left hemisphere, whereas woEM showed no difference.Discussion and ConclusionWe observed the effect of EM on PFC oxygenation during EMDR, since wEM subjects showed a mean increase of oxy-Hb during RECALL and a decrease during pre-RECALL, as opposed to woEM. Frequency analysis evidenced a reduction of activity of sympathetic nervous system in wEM group during pre-RECALL. Our outcomes revealed a different hemodynamics induced by eye movements in wEM with respect to woEM group.