EMDR THERAPY

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents

What is PTSD?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychological
disorder that can develop after exposure to
exceptionally threatening or horrifying events.

PTSD can occur after a single exposure to trauma as

well as prolonged exposure and pose physical and
mental health risks (Bisson et al., 2015).

(Bisson et al., 2015)

What areas of the brain is

PTSD associated with?
Prefrontal Cortex
(Bisson et al., 2015)(Rodenburg et
Area linked to regulation al., 2009)

and experience of
emotions Hippocampus
Area linked to memory
Amygdala
Area linked to threat detection
and conditioned or
unconditioned fear responses

Trauma in childhood and adolescence

The importance of effective therapy
14%
Youth aged 14 to 26%
Youth reported
Youth assaulted 17 were sexually
being physically
at least once assaulted or
abused
Youth repeatedly sexually abused Children age 4 and
experience under experienced
maltreatment by a a traumatic event
50% caregiver
72% 13%

(Compassion Prison Project, 2022)

What are examples of a

What is the process of Eye
traumatic experience?
Movement Desensitization

Reprocessing therapy?
Sexual abuse
Physical abuse EMDR is guided by the concept that
Assault substructure of mental health
Domestic violence disorders are unprocessed
memories of earlier life experiences
Natural disaster
Illness or death

what can PTSD look like? Patients focus on the traumatic memory
Recurrent, distressing dreams and simultaneously experience bilateral
Intrusive thoughts stimulation (BLS), or the rapid
Flashbacks movement of the eye, which reduces the
Avoidance of memory levels of emotion attached to the
Irritable behavior memory (Shapiro, 2014)

(American psychiatric association, 2017)

 Alterations in arousal and reactivity

8 phases of EMDR:
Why is the use of EMDR in children History-taking
1
important? of background information
Children have less options for
treatment compared to adults. Unlike
Preparing the
children, adults can be prescribed a 2
client
range of medications including
selective serotonin re-uptake
inhibitors (SSRIs), anticonvulsants, Assessing the
and antipsychotics that have been 3 target memory
clinically accepted for treatment.

In young children, research on the use

of these medications is limited. 4 Processing the
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and memory to
EMDR have been widely accepted as
adaptive
effective treatments of PTSD in
resolution
children. 7
(phases 4-7)
(Strawn & Keeshin, 2021)

Evaluating
8 treatment
results

(American Psychological association, 2017)

Why has EMDR increased in popularity

among treatments for PTSD?
When compared to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR
seemed similar in effect despite less exposure to the
traumatic memory

Researchers have found that eye movements used in EMDR result in

physiologic calming

EMDR targets the memory in which the trauma happened while

detaching the patient from previously experienced intensity
(Shapiro, 2014)

Recommendation

PTSD can occur at any time in an individual's life.

EMDR has been observed to be an effective
treatment for individuals of all ages who have
been exposed to traumatic events. I recommend
that EMDR be available to patients under the age
of 18 for effective, safe treatment while
promoting healthy cognitive development about
the self and the world around them.
 References:

American Psychiatric Association. (2017). Diagnostic and

statistical manual of mental disorders: Dsm-5.

American Psychological Association. (2017, May). Eye

movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
American Psychological Association. Retrieved April 14, 2023,
from https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-
movement-reprocessing

Bisson, J. I., Cosgrove, S., Lewis, C., & Robert, N. P. (2015,

November 26). Post-traumatic stress disorder. BMJ (Clinical
research ed.). Retrieved April 14, 2023, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4663500/

Childhood trauma statistics. Compassion Prison Project.

(2022, October 18). Retrieved April 14, 2023, from
https://compassionprisonproject.org/childhood-trauma-
statistics/#:~:text=50%25%20of%20youth%20have%20been
%20assaulted%20at%20least%20once.&text=39%25%20of
%20youth%20ages%2012%20to%2017%20reported%20witn
essing%20violence.&text=34%25%20of%20youth%20report
ed%20being,bullied%20and%2013%25%20physically%20bul
lied.

Shapiro, F. (2014). The role of eye movement desensitization

and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in medicine: Addressing the
psychological and physical symptoms stemming from adverse
life experiences. The Permanente journal. Retrieved April 14,
2023, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3951033/

Strawn, J., & Keeshin, B. (2021, September 20).

Pharmacotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in
children and adolescents. UpToDate. Retrieved April 14, 2023,
from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/pharmacotherapy-
for-posttraumatic-stress-disorder-in-children-and-
adolescents