EMDR in the treatment of chronic pain Research summary
EMDR
in the treatment of chronic pain
Research
summary
Mark
Grant, February 2018
1992; The first published report of EMDR
in the treatment (McCann 1993)
1992-2018 13 Observational
studies
3 x
Randomized Controlled Trials
3 x research
reviews
Research
reviews:
1.
Van Rood, deroos (2009)
Conclusion:
Recommended investigation of EMDR given role of trauma in pain and prevalence
of somatization disorders.
2.
Gerhardt, Eich et al (2013)
Concluded;
“early evidence for usefulness of EMDR in chronic pain conditions”
3.
Tesarz, Leisner et al, (2014}
Concluded;
“promising results reported for PLP, headache and chronic musculoskeletal pain
(High effect sizes noted).
Outcomes
The strongest evidence for EMDR in the treatment of chronic
pain pertains to the treatment of PLP, headaches and chronic musculoskeletal
pain. The evidence for other types of pain (eg; Fibromyalgia, CRPS) is less
strong.
Tesarz & Leiisner et al also noted that; “The effects of
EMDR are mainly associated with decreased pain intensity and emotional distress
and that results tended to be maintained or showed even further improvement
upon at follow-up.
Summary
There are
a multitude of studies regarding EMDR treatment of pain comprising over 13
observational studies and 3 RCT’s. Studies tend to show reductions in pain and
emotional distress (including PTSD symptoms) with gains generally
well-maintained. With the possible exception of the pilot RCT study by Gerhardt
(2016) a good RCT is lacking. In this sense research evidence for EMDR
treatment of pain has not kept up with that involving EMDR treatment of PTSD. In terms of the current status of EMDR as an
evidence-based treatment for chronic pain, based on National Health and Medical
Research Council criteria (see appendix a) EMDR can be considered a level 3 – 4
(where level 1 is gold standard). The evidence is thus promising but more
well-designed RCT’s are needed.
References
de Roos CJAM, Veenstra, AC, den
Holllander-Gijsman, ME, van der Wee, NJA, de Jongh, A, Zitman, FG, van Rood,
RY. (2006) Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing (EMDR) for Chronic Phantom
C de Roos, MA, AC Veenstra, MA, Prof A de Jongh, PhD, ME den Hollander-Gijsman, MA, NJA van der Wee, PhD, Prof FG Zitman, PhD, and YR van Rood, PhD (2010) Treatment of chronic phantom limb pain using
a trauma-focused psychological approach Pain Res Manag. 2010 Mar-Apr; 15(2): 65–71.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing vs.
Treatment-as-Usual for Non-Specific Chronic Back Pain Patients with
Psychological Trauma: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Front Psychiatry. 2016 Dec 20;7:201. doi:
10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00201. eCollection 2016.
Grant, M (2000) EMDR: a new treatment for trauma
and chronic pain. Complimentary Therapies
in Nursing & Midwifery, 6, 91-94 Harcourt.
Grant,
M. & Threlfo, C. (2002). EMDR in the treatment of chronic pain.
Journal
of Clinical Psychology, 58(12), 1505-1520.
Grant
M. (2014) Eye Movement Desensitization
Reprocessing treatment of chronic pain. OA
Musculoskeletal Medicine Aug. 17(2), 17.
Mazzola, Alexandra, Calcagno, Marea, Lujon, Goicochea,
et al., (2009) EMDR in the treatment of Chronic Pain. (2009) Journal of EMDR Practice and Research. 3(2)
66-79.
McCann, David. (1993). Post-traumatic stress
disorder due to devastating burns overcome by single session eye movement
desensitization. Journal of behavior
therapy and experimental psychiatry. 23. 319-23. 10.1016/0005-7916(92)90055-N.
Ray, Albert R., & Zbik, Albert (2002).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapies and Beyond. In; Tollison, C.David Sattherwaite,
John R., & Tollison, Joseph W., (Eds). Practical Pain Management. P 189 –
207. Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Schneider, Jens, Hofman, Arne, Rost, Christine,
Shapiro, Francine. (2007) EMDR in the Treatment of Chronic Phantom Limb Pain. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research. 1(1) 31-45.
Tesarz J, Leisner S, Gerhardt
A, Janke S, Seidler GH, Eich W, Hartmann M. (2014) Effects of Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing Treatment on chronic pain patients: A systematic Review. Pain Medicine. Feb;15(2):247-63.
Appendix
a
Australian
NHMRC criteria for evidence-based treatments
•
Level 1
Systematic review of all RCT’s
•
Level 2
At least one properly designed RCT
•
Level 3
Well designed pseudo-randomized RCT’s
•
Level 4
Case-series (pre-test and post-test)
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