High–Resolution Brain SPECT Imaging and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in Police Officers With PTSD

Abstract

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has been shown to be an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, the authors evaluated the effectiveness and physiological effects of EMDR in police officers involved with on-duty shootings and who had PTSD. Six police officers involved with on-duty shootings and subsequent delayed-onset PTSD were evaluated with standard measures, the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, and high-resolution brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging before and after treatment. All police officers showed clinical improvement and marked reductions in the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale Score (PDS). In addition, there were decreases in the left and right occipital lobe, left parietal lobe, and right precentral frontal lobe as well as significant increased perfusion in the left inferior frontal gyrus. In our study EMDR was an effective treatment for PTSD in this police officer group, showing both clinical and brain imaging changes.

Grey matter density changes of structures involved in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after recovery following Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy

“…The present results parallel a previous study in which GM lower density in limbic and paralimbic cortices was found to be associated with PTSD diagnosis, trauma load, and EMDR treatment outcome (Nardo et al, 2010). Moreover, our results also parallel previous functional findings reporting successful restoration of prefrontal activity post-EMDR in PTSD, with significantly increased perfusion in the left frontal gyrus (Lansing et al, 2005), increased cerebral blood flow in the bilateral dlPFC (Oh and Choi, 2007), and increased activity in the mPFC, including the ACC (Levin et al, 1999). However, likely due to methodological differences with our experiment, other studies with larger sample size have shown that in patients suffering from PTSD, normalization of a tracer distribution in the perilimbic cortex occurred after successful EMDR therapy as compared to trauma exposed controls (Pagani et al, 2007).…”

Is posttraumatic stress disorder a stress‐induced fear circuitry disorder?

“…In addition, medial prefrontal activation is negatively correlated with PTSD symptom severity (Britton et al, 2005;Dickie et al, 2008;Hopper, Frewen, van der Kolk, & Lanius, 2007;Kim et al, 2007;Shin et al, 2005). Finally, successful treatment has been associated with increased activation in medial prefrontal cortex (Felmingham et al, 2007;Lansing, Amen, Hanks, & Rudy, 2005;Peres et al, 2007;Seedat et al, 2004) (but see also .…”

Neurocognitive functioning over the course of trauma‐focused psychotherapy for PTSD: Changes in verbal memory and executive functioning

“…In line with improvements in neuropsychological functioning in the current study, some functional and morphological brain changes have been reported by other studies after PTSD treatment in areas involved in verbal memory and executive functioning. After EMDR and BEP, normalized activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has been reported by several studies (Lansing, Amen, Hanks, & Rudy, ; Levin, Lazrove, & van der Kolk, ; Lindauer et al ., ; Oh & Choi, ). Results from those studies are somewhat more mixed regarding limbic areas, but lean towards decreased limbic activation.…”