A Case Series of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in 30 Psychiatric Patients: Korean Experience / 신경정신의학

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an emerging psychotherapeutic technique for posttraumatic stress disorder and other conditions associated with psychological trauma. The effectiveness of this technique has been reported among North American and European populations; however, research on it's effectiveness among other ethnocultural groups is sparse. This is the first clinical study of EMDR in Korea with 30 Korean psychiatric patients in two clinical settings. METHODS: Diagnostically heterogeneous group of 30 psychiatric patients underwent a mean of 3.13 (95%CI=2.54-3.73) sessions of EMDR. The Clinical Global Impression-Change scale (CGI-C) was administered one week and six months after the termination of treatment. RESULTS: Participants had a mean CGI-C score of 1.80 (95%CI=1.44-2.16). We designated as 'responders' those who were 'very much improved' or 'much improved' on the CGI-C, 23 (77%) After six months, 19/23 (83%) still characterized as remaimed responders. All the patients with posttraumatic stress disorder, phobia, and grief reaction were responders, and those with personality disorder nonresponders. Results for depressive and other disorders were mixed. CONCLUSION: Despite methodological limitations, results from this study suggest that the EMDR can be applied to Korean psychiatric patients.