In a recent article on this subject, http://ThePsychologist.BPK.ORG.UK, Psychologist Robin Logie asserts that EMDR can be reasonably utilized in the treatment of many other psychological disorders beyond PTSD.
Logie says EMDR has enough backing from sound scientific research to now be considered a comprehensive psychotherapy treatment approach, on par with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The author further reasons that increasing evidence is mounting that indicates many psychological disorders are based in trauma and other negative life experiences, therefore making the use of EMDR in many other psychological disorders beyond PTSD a sound, evidence-based choice by the clinician.
Indeed, Logie’s assertions are backed by science. Many published studies exist that show the efficacy of EMDR in the treatment of Pain Management, Conduct Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Phobia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, survivors of sexual abuse, and bulimia nervosa. There is also mounting evidence for the use of EMDR in the treatment of addiction.
In Logie’s article he begins to explore past and current research indicating that EMDR is also being considered in the treatment of psychosis, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Many people do not understand the vast number of EMDR protocols that have been created to treat any number of psychological disorders. Yes, these protocols already exist and EMDR trained clinicians have been using them for years in the field. All of these protocols are based on the original EMDR Basic Protocol developed by EMDR founder Francine Shapiro, with slight alterations.
I, for one, agree with Logie. EMDR is a comprehensive psychotherapy treatment approach in its own right and I look forward to its complete recognition in a field that is slower to convince than it’s many successfully treated clients and the scientists working to show, without a doubt, it’s rightful standing in the present and future.
