EMDR Therapy in Psychiatric Disorders I.
Tracks
South Hall 2 (A + B) | Room 2
| Saturday, May 31, 2025 |
| 9:00 - 10:00 |
Speaker
Laurian Hafkemeijer
Clinical Psychologist
Ggz Delfland
EMDR in patients with a personality disorder
9:00 - 10:00Abstract
Authors
Laurian Hafkemeijer1,
Ad De Jongh2
1GGZ Delfland, Sint Jorisweg 2, 2612 GA Delft, The Netherlands,
2RPsytrec, Professor Bronkhorstlaan, 3723 MB Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Background
Personality disorders are frequently linked to traumatic and stressful life events, which play a significant role in their development and persistence. The effectiveness of Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has not yet been studied in individuals with personality disorders without PTSD.
Aims
This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of EMDR therapy in treating personality disorders, regardless of PTSD. It also aimed to explore the impact of EMDR on various memory types that do not meet the PTSD A criterion.
Methods
Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted in which EMDR was compared with a waitlist control group. The first RCT evaluated the effectiveness of five weekly 90-minute sessions of EMDR
therapy in reducing psychological symptoms and improving functioning in patients with a personality disorder without PTSD. The second RCT (TEMPO study) focused on the prevalence of PTSD and
trauma-related symptoms in a sample of patients with a personality disorder and assessed the effectiveness of ten biweekly 90-minute EMDR therapy sessions across various types of adverse events.
Results
EMDR significantly reduced psychological symptoms and improved functioning in patients with a personality disorder, irrespective of PTSD diagnosis. The therapy proved to be able to effectively
process memories involving Criterion A traumas and other stressful events, such as emotional neglect and emotional abuse. Symptom exacerbations, including suicidality and emotional dysregulation, were less common in the EMDR group.
Conclusions
EMDR is a promising treatment option for personality disorders. Further research is needed to further explore long-term outcomes.
Learning Objectives
1) Understanding the AIP model as a theoretical framework for EMDR in personality disorders.
2) Gaining insight into recent research findings on the effects of EMDR in this population.
3) Recognizing the prevalence of trauma and ACEs in this population and its significance.
References
1) De Jongh, A., & Hafkemeijer, L. C. S. (2024). Trauma‐focused treatment of a client with Complex PTSD and comorbid pathology using EMDR therapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 80(4), 824-835. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23673
2) De Jongh, A., Hafkemeijer, L., Hofman, S., Slotema, K., & Hornsveld, H. (2024). The AIP model as a theoretical framework for the treatment of personality disorders with EMDR therapy. Frontiers in psychiatry, 15, 1331876. De Jongh, A., Hafkemeijer, L., Hofman, S., Slotema, K., & Hornsveld, H. (2024). The AIP model as a theoretical framework for the treatment of personality disorders with EMDR therapy.
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1331876. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1331876
3) Hafkemeijer, L., de Jongh, A., Starrenburg, A., Hoekstra, T., & Slotema, K. (2024). EMDR treatment in patients with personality disorders. Should we fear symptom exacerbation?. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 15(1), 2407222.
4) Hafkemeijer, L., de Jongh, A., van der Palen, J., & Starrenburg, A. (2020). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in patients with a personality disorder. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1), 1838777.
5) Hafkemeijer, L., de Jongh, A., van der Palen, J., & Starrenburg, A. (2020). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in patients with a personality disorder. European Journal of Psychotraumatology,
11(1), 1838777. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1838777
6) Hafkemeijer, L., Slotema, K., Haard, N. D., & Jongh, A. D. (2023). Case report: Brief, intensive EMDR therapy for borderline personality disorder: results of two case studies with one year follow-up. Frontiers in
Psychiatry, 14, 1283145. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1283145
7) Hafkemeijer, L., Starrenburg, A., van der Palen, J., Slotema, K., & de Jongh, A. (2021). Does EMDR therapy have an effect on memories of emotional abuse, neglect and other types of adverse events in patients
with a personality disorder? Preliminary data. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(19), 4333. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10194333
Laurian Hafkemeijer1,
Ad De Jongh2
1GGZ Delfland, Sint Jorisweg 2, 2612 GA Delft, The Netherlands,
2RPsytrec, Professor Bronkhorstlaan, 3723 MB Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Background
Personality disorders are frequently linked to traumatic and stressful life events, which play a significant role in their development and persistence. The effectiveness of Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has not yet been studied in individuals with personality disorders without PTSD.
Aims
This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of EMDR therapy in treating personality disorders, regardless of PTSD. It also aimed to explore the impact of EMDR on various memory types that do not meet the PTSD A criterion.
Methods
Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted in which EMDR was compared with a waitlist control group. The first RCT evaluated the effectiveness of five weekly 90-minute sessions of EMDR
therapy in reducing psychological symptoms and improving functioning in patients with a personality disorder without PTSD. The second RCT (TEMPO study) focused on the prevalence of PTSD and
trauma-related symptoms in a sample of patients with a personality disorder and assessed the effectiveness of ten biweekly 90-minute EMDR therapy sessions across various types of adverse events.
Results
EMDR significantly reduced psychological symptoms and improved functioning in patients with a personality disorder, irrespective of PTSD diagnosis. The therapy proved to be able to effectively
process memories involving Criterion A traumas and other stressful events, such as emotional neglect and emotional abuse. Symptom exacerbations, including suicidality and emotional dysregulation, were less common in the EMDR group.
Conclusions
EMDR is a promising treatment option for personality disorders. Further research is needed to further explore long-term outcomes.
Learning Objectives
1) Understanding the AIP model as a theoretical framework for EMDR in personality disorders.
2) Gaining insight into recent research findings on the effects of EMDR in this population.
3) Recognizing the prevalence of trauma and ACEs in this population and its significance.
References
1) De Jongh, A., & Hafkemeijer, L. C. S. (2024). Trauma‐focused treatment of a client with Complex PTSD and comorbid pathology using EMDR therapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 80(4), 824-835. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23673
2) De Jongh, A., Hafkemeijer, L., Hofman, S., Slotema, K., & Hornsveld, H. (2024). The AIP model as a theoretical framework for the treatment of personality disorders with EMDR therapy. Frontiers in psychiatry, 15, 1331876. De Jongh, A., Hafkemeijer, L., Hofman, S., Slotema, K., & Hornsveld, H. (2024). The AIP model as a theoretical framework for the treatment of personality disorders with EMDR therapy.
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1331876. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1331876
3) Hafkemeijer, L., de Jongh, A., Starrenburg, A., Hoekstra, T., & Slotema, K. (2024). EMDR treatment in patients with personality disorders. Should we fear symptom exacerbation?. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 15(1), 2407222.
4) Hafkemeijer, L., de Jongh, A., van der Palen, J., & Starrenburg, A. (2020). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in patients with a personality disorder. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1), 1838777.
5) Hafkemeijer, L., de Jongh, A., van der Palen, J., & Starrenburg, A. (2020). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in patients with a personality disorder. European Journal of Psychotraumatology,
11(1), 1838777. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1838777
6) Hafkemeijer, L., Slotema, K., Haard, N. D., & Jongh, A. D. (2023). Case report: Brief, intensive EMDR therapy for borderline personality disorder: results of two case studies with one year follow-up. Frontiers in
Psychiatry, 14, 1283145. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1283145
7) Hafkemeijer, L., Starrenburg, A., van der Palen, J., Slotema, K., & de Jongh, A. (2021). Does EMDR therapy have an effect on memories of emotional abuse, neglect and other types of adverse events in patients
with a personality disorder? Preliminary data. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(19), 4333. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10194333
