Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following homicide

Abstract

Homicide perpetrators have been observed to report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) directly related to involvement in the offence itself. A single case-study is presented, which describes the application of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR; Shapiro, 1995) for a male perpetrator of homicide. The nature of the dif culties these offenders experience is considered and the need for appropriate psychological intervention in such cases is discussed.

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing for offence-related trauma in a mentally disordered sexual offender

“…However, results of the present case study are consistent with EMDR for Offence-Related Trauma 15 a previous case study involving the treatment of offence-related trauma for homicide (Pollock, 2000) and lend further support for the application of EMDR for this specific type of trauma presentation. As a single case study, it is not possible to generalise findings to all offenders and this highlights the need for rigorous research targeting offence-related trauma with EMDR.…”

“…Despite the potential utility for EMDR to be applied with offenders presenting with offence-relating trauma in order to possibly reduce re-offending, only three published studies have examined EMDR with offenders (Pollock, 2000); all of which report positive EMDR effects. One was a single case study examining the effects of EMDR with a homicide offender with offence related trauma (Pollock, 2000).…”

“…One was a single case study examining the effects of EMDR with a homicide offender with offence related trauma (Pollock, 2000). Ricci (2006) report another case study with an incestuous child abuser; and finally, Ricci, Clayton and Shapiro (2006) examined EMDR as an adjunct to standard sexual offender treatment for sexual offenders with unresolved childhood trauma (Ricci et al, 2006) and found significant post treatment improvements on six areas specific to sexual offending (e.g., sexual thoughts).…”

“…Research has demonstrated that perpetration of an offence itself can illicit trauma (i.e., offence-related trauma; Pollock, 2000) even if the victim is not killed (Payne, Watt, Rogers & McMurran, 2008). Large-scale studies have reported prevalence rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a consequence of violent offending in prison populations ranging from 15% (Collins & Bailey, 1990) to 32% (Steiner, Garcia & Matthews, 1997).…”

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in a forensic patient with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from homicide: a case study

“…To the best of our knowledge, there are only five published case studies investigating PTSD treatment effects in patients with PTSD resulting from offending (CBT: Kayrouz & Vrklevski, 2015;Lad, 2013;Rogers, Gray, Williams, & Kitchiner, 2000;EMDR: Clark, Tyler, & Gannon, 2014;Pollock, 2000). All studies showed large reductions in offense-related PTSD symptoms, as well as improved functioning.…”