Module Four Non-pharmacological Treatment of PTSD

Module Four Non-pharmacological Treatment of PTSD

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

This is a type of non-pharmacological psychotherapy aimed to ease the distress secondary to traumatic memories. This therapy was established in the late 1980s by Francine Shapiro. It was built on the idea that traumatic events can compromise the brain’s ability to process and integrate them, consequently leading to lasting psychological symptoms. It involves eight steps that are aimed at mitigating self-conception that may emanate from traumatic events alongside installing and affirming positive self-evaluation among post-traumatic stress disorder (Gainer et al., 2020).

The eight steps involved in this treatment method are history taking, where thorough patient assessment is done, and the findings help develop a comprehensive treatment plan. The second is the preparation phase, where the therapist explains the EMDR process to the client and helps to develop coping mechanisms for dealing to help them deal with emotional stress. The third is the assessment phase, which allows the therapist to identify specific traumatic memories as well as identify the negative beliefs about oneself and the desired positive beliefs. The fourth is the desensitization phase, which involves the client concentrating on the traumatic memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation, typically through eye movements, sounds, or taps. The fifth is the installation phase, where the client strengthens the positive belief they have identified to replace the negative belief. The sixth is the body scan, where the therapist asks the client to focus on any physical sensations to identify and process any residual distress. The seventh is the closure phase, where the therapist ensures the client returns and reviews the progress made. The last phase is the reevaluation in the subsequent sessions to assess the impact of the previous sessions and identify new targets if necessary (Gainer et al., 2020).

An individual’s need and the complexity of the trauma determine the length of the therapy. However, a session of EMDR lasts 60 to 90 minutes, with some clients showing significant improvement in a few sessions while others take longer to respond to the treatment, often over weeks or months. The main treatment phase is the desensitization phase, which involves the client reflecting on the traumatic memory while being on the bilateral stimulation believed to stimulate the brain’s reprocessing of the traumatic memory, resulting in reduced distress and the integration of more adaptive beliefs (Gainer et al., 2020).

This treatment therapy is primarily used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, it is beneficial to other conditions such as cancer in female patients, anxiety disorders, depression, panic attacks, phobias, complex trauma and dissociative disorders, grief and loss, chronic pain, stress-related conditions, and performance anxiety. From the above evidence, it is justifiable to state that this treatment therapy is effective for psychological conditions.
EMDR requires a high competence level from healthcare professionals, which requires them to undertake specialized training that is offered in two parts. To begin with, basic training involves an initial comprehensive training that involves experiential components. The trainees learn the theory underpinnings of EMDR, the eight-phase treatment approach, and practical application through supervised practice. Lastly, there is advanced training and certification that comes after completion of the basic training, which includes additional coursework, consultation hours with an EDMR-approved consultant, and demonstrating competence in the practice of EMDR. Several health professionals can provide this therapy after completing the required training and being certified. The professionals include psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychiatric nurses.

The EDMR has been proven to be effective in the treatment of trauma-related conditions like PTSD. This therapy is effective relative to other therapies like cognitive behavior therapy. Alongside the research done by many studies, the treatment has been endorsed to be effective by many international health organizations, such as the American Psychological Association (APA). Its rapid results also mark its effectiveness in comparison to other therapies. It has broad applicability in many cases mostly PTSD-related comorbidities and others such as depression, phobias, and chronic pain. Feedback collected from the clients also shows the effectiveness of this treatment therapy, where the clients show positive beliefs about themselves following the EDMR therapy. Overall, research has shown that EDMR is a highly effective and evidence-based treatment for trauma and related conditions (Wilson et al., 2018).

As a registered nurse, I would incorporate EDMR therapy into my practice to provide care to trauma victims. This will provide me with a chance to apply the theory from the basic training and the skills from the advanced training on EDMR in dispensing my services. My passion for working to restore humanity and preserve human dignity will be followed after completion of the training and certification. Research has proven that EDMR has a positive effect on the treatment outcomes of these trauma-related diseases. Also, the use of EDMR reduces the use of pharmacologic agents that may have other side effects, such as addiction and other associated effects. Therefore, these reasons justify why I would opt to include EDMR as a treatment style in my practice.

References

Gainer, D., Alam, S., Alam, H., & Redding, H. (2020). A flash of hope: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, 17(7-9), 12–20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7839656/

Wilson, G., Farrell, D., Barron, I., Hutchins, J., Whybrow, D., & Kiernan, M. D. (2018). The use of eye-movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in treating post-traumatic stress disorder—a systematic narrative review. Frontiers in Psychology, 9(923). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00923

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Module Four Non-pharmacological Treatment of PTSD

In this module two types of nonpharmacological treatment were discussed for clients with PTSD, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Module Four Non-pharmacological Treatment of PTSD

1. Choose either EMDR or CBT
2. Discuss this type of treatment, what it is, how long it lasts, what is involved during the treatment sessions
3. What types of conditions can benefit from this treatment type
4. What type of training is needed to provide this type of therapy
5. What type of clinicians can provide this type of care
6. How effective is this type of treatment
7. Do you see yourself providing this type of treatment in your practice?
   

Requirements:

1. This assignment will be turned in as a word document in APA format
2. Include your references
3. You will need to submit through Turnitin.