EMDR in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Patients with Sexual, Aggressive or Religious Obsessions - Part I
Tracks
Studio N
| Sunday, June 7, 2026 |
| 9:00 - 10:30 |
| Studio N |
Overview
Bohm Karsten (Germany)
Speaker
Karsten Boehm
Vize Chair
Emdria Germany E.v.
EMDR in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder patients with sexual, aggressive or religious obsessions - Part I
9:00 - 10:30Abstract
Authors
Karsten Boehm1
1Private Practice for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Urachstrasse 11, 79102 Freiburg, Germany
OCDs are difficult to treat, especially if sexual, aggressive or religious obsessions are part of them. Various studies have demonstrated that 15–40% of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) do not respond to it; they cannot be motivated to undergo treatment, drop out, or experience persisting difficulties in regulating their emotions. In this practical workshop on OCD, EMDR is presented in a new procedure, following international evidence based guidelines such as NICE, APA, German DGPPN S3-guidlines. Furthermore, the new ICD-11 definition of OCD will be presented and related disorders discussed.
OCD-patients with sexual, aggressive or religious obsessions experienced EMDR as a useful and motivating therapy. Furthermore, they felt encouraged to deal with their emotions in additional psychological treatments.
Our new in-vivo EMDR therapy markedly reduced OCD symptoms. EMDR is shown as an useful treatment in working with patients suffering from OCD by using videos, live role-plays, live-demonstrations and speech. Especially, the treatment planning, the timing in therapy and the best targets to use for OCD-patients will be shown.
Learning
• Demonstrate the use of the EMDR-protocol for OCD patients, including role-plays to show it in a live demonstration
• Differences in Washing OCD, Control OCD and mainly aggressive/sexual/religious thoughts
• Structured worksheet for the different OCD themes
• ICD-11: what is new in OCD?
• Which are the best targets for OCD patients to work with?
Keywords
OCD, EMDR, treatment planning, ICD-11
In general:
Content of presentation (theory/practice/research): < 20% / 30 - 50% / 20 - 30%
References:
Böhm, Karsten (2019). EMDR’s Efficacy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Review.
Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, Vol. 13, Number 4 (DOI:
10.1891/1933-3196.13.4.333)
• Marsden, Zoe & Böhm, Karsten (2023). EMDR Therapy and OCD. In Farrell et al. The Oxford Handbook of EMDR. Oxford Press, Oxford. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192898357.013.8
• Böhm K, Voderholzer U (2010). Use of EMDR in Treatment of Obsessiv- Compulsiv Disoders: A Case Series. Verhaltenstherapie; 20: 175-181 (DOI: 10.1159/000319439)
• Böhm, Karsten (2015). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and EMDR. In Luber, Marilyn (Hrsg.): Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Scripted Protocols and Summery Sheets: Treating Trauma, Anxiety and Mood-Related Conditions, Springer New York, 2. Edition, Chapter 13.
• Böhm, Karsten (2024). EMDR, Hogrefe, Göttingen.
• Böhm, Karsten (20212). EMDR in der Psychotherapie der PTBS, Springer, 2. Auflage, Heidelberg.
• Böhm, Karsten (20222). Utilsation de l’EMDR dans le traitement des TOC. In Brennstuhl, Cornil et al., Pratique de la psychothérapie EMDR. Dunod, Malakoff.
Karsten Boehm1
1Private Practice for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Urachstrasse 11, 79102 Freiburg, Germany
OCDs are difficult to treat, especially if sexual, aggressive or religious obsessions are part of them. Various studies have demonstrated that 15–40% of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) do not respond to it; they cannot be motivated to undergo treatment, drop out, or experience persisting difficulties in regulating their emotions. In this practical workshop on OCD, EMDR is presented in a new procedure, following international evidence based guidelines such as NICE, APA, German DGPPN S3-guidlines. Furthermore, the new ICD-11 definition of OCD will be presented and related disorders discussed.
OCD-patients with sexual, aggressive or religious obsessions experienced EMDR as a useful and motivating therapy. Furthermore, they felt encouraged to deal with their emotions in additional psychological treatments.
Our new in-vivo EMDR therapy markedly reduced OCD symptoms. EMDR is shown as an useful treatment in working with patients suffering from OCD by using videos, live role-plays, live-demonstrations and speech. Especially, the treatment planning, the timing in therapy and the best targets to use for OCD-patients will be shown.
Learning
• Demonstrate the use of the EMDR-protocol for OCD patients, including role-plays to show it in a live demonstration
• Differences in Washing OCD, Control OCD and mainly aggressive/sexual/religious thoughts
• Structured worksheet for the different OCD themes
• ICD-11: what is new in OCD?
• Which are the best targets for OCD patients to work with?
Keywords
OCD, EMDR, treatment planning, ICD-11
In general:
Content of presentation (theory/practice/research): < 20% / 30 - 50% / 20 - 30%
References:
Böhm, Karsten (2019). EMDR’s Efficacy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Review.
Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, Vol. 13, Number 4 (DOI:
10.1891/1933-3196.13.4.333)
• Marsden, Zoe & Böhm, Karsten (2023). EMDR Therapy and OCD. In Farrell et al. The Oxford Handbook of EMDR. Oxford Press, Oxford. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192898357.013.8
• Böhm K, Voderholzer U (2010). Use of EMDR in Treatment of Obsessiv- Compulsiv Disoders: A Case Series. Verhaltenstherapie; 20: 175-181 (DOI: 10.1159/000319439)
• Böhm, Karsten (2015). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and EMDR. In Luber, Marilyn (Hrsg.): Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Scripted Protocols and Summery Sheets: Treating Trauma, Anxiety and Mood-Related Conditions, Springer New York, 2. Edition, Chapter 13.
• Böhm, Karsten (2024). EMDR, Hogrefe, Göttingen.
• Böhm, Karsten (20212). EMDR in der Psychotherapie der PTBS, Springer, 2. Auflage, Heidelberg.
• Böhm, Karsten (20222). Utilsation de l’EMDR dans le traitement des TOC. In Brennstuhl, Cornil et al., Pratique de la psychothérapie EMDR. Dunod, Malakoff.
