The impact of eye movements and tones on disturbing memories involving PTSD and other mental disorders

Abstract

The impact of eye movements and tones on disturbing memories involving PTSD and other mental disorders de Jongh, A.; Ernst, R.; Marques, L.; Hornsveld, H. General rightsIt is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). Disclaimer/Complaints regulationsIf you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: http://uba.uva.nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible. Download date: 12 May 2018The impact of eye movements and tones on disturbing memories involving PTSD and other mental disorders Method: This study was aimed at investigating (1) the effects of taxing the working memory, as applied in EMDR, during recall of negative memories in 32 patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and 32 patients with other mental disorders, and (2) whether the results would differ between both groups. In a therapeutic session patients were asked to recollect a crucial upsetting memory while, in counterbalanced order (a) performing eye movements, (b) listening to tones and (c) watching a blank wall ('recall only'), each episode lasting six minutes.Results: Eye movements were found to be more effective in diminishing the emotionality of the memory than 'recall only'. There was a trend showing that tones were less effective than eye movements, but more effective than 'recall only'. The majority of patients (64%) preferred tones to continue with. The effects of taxing working memory on disturbing memories did not differ between PTSD patients and those diagnosed with other conditions. Conclusions:The findings provide further evidence for the value of employing eye movements in EMDR treatments. The results also support the notion that EMDR is a suitable option for resolving disturbing memories underlying a broader range of mental health problems than PTSD alone.3

Effectiveness of an intensive treatment programme combining prolonged exposure and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for severe post-traumatic stress disorder

“…EMDR therapy was implemented with the use of rapid deployment of sets of eye movements offered by fingers or using a light bar. If needed, this was combined with earphones that presented a clicking sound, alternating from the left to the right ear, and/or two pulsators held in each hand that provided alternating bilateral tactile stimulation, all in order to maximize taxation of patients’ working memory (De Jongh, Ernst, Marques, & Hornsveld, 2013). …”

Intensive EMDR to Treat Patients With Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Series

“…To maximize taxation of patients' working memory (de Jongh, Ernst, Marques, & Hornsveld, 2013), if needed, the therapist was allowed to switch to the use of a light bar in combination with earphones with a clicking sound, alternating to either the left or the right ear, and two hand-holdable pulsers providing alternation bilateral, tactile stimulation.…”

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

“…In total, 12 sessions of EMDR were applied using the Dutch translation of the manualized standard eight-phase protocol (de Jongh & ten Broeke, 2012;Shapiro, 2001, for a description, see http://www.emdria.org/?120). Evidence is mounting, concerning the working mechanism of EMDR, to support the working memory model (de Jongh, Ernst, Marques, & Hornsveld, 2013). According to this account, working memory is taxed when a vivid and emotional traumatic memory is recalled.…”