Eye Movement Reprocessing

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy treatment developed by Francine Shapiro as a mean to ease PTSD symptoms associated with experienced trauma. Therapy consists of eight phases that address past, present, and future of the negative event. During treatment, a patient is required to summon the negative events while simultaneously focusing on external stimuli such as side to side eye movements, hand tapping or audio stimuli. Shapiro claims that in that way the brain's natural adaptive information processing mechanisms are engaged and in that way evoke decrease in effects of the trauma. EMDR was originally developed for the purpose of treating adults; however, it is also used to treat PTSD in children and young adolescents.
27 children aging 6-12 years participated in this research (waiting list control group: n = 14, EMDR group: n = 13). Post-sessions assessment showed a decrease in PTSD symptoms up to 25 % in children from EMDR group, thus suggesting this as an effective method in the treatment of child trauma (Kemp et al, 2010).
Improvement in functionality level was noticed in 13 refugee children who were treated for PTSD using EMDR, suggesting that this method can be used to effectively decrease PTSD symptoms in war-traumatized children (Oras et al, 2004). Several other studies involving refugee children further underpin the efficacy of EMDR in the treatment of PTSD symptoms (Ahmad et al, 2007; Jarero et al, 2007). Furthermore, there is evidence that EMDR can also be successfully used for treatment in situations of ongoing destruction and trauma (Zaghrout-Hodali,