Physiological correlates of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an established treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, its working mechanism remains unclear. This study explored physiological correlates of eye movements during EMDR in relation to current hypotheses; distraction, condit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of anxiety disorders Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 622 - 634
Main Authors: Elofsson, Ulf O.E., von Schèele, Bo, Theorell, Töres, Söndergaard, Hans Peter
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: New York, NY Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2008
Elsevier
Subjects:
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Anxiety disorders. Neuroses
Arousal - physiology
Automatic physiology
Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology
Autonomic physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Carbon Dioxide - blood
Desensitization, Psychologic - methods
Emotions - physiology
Eye movement desensitization
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
Eye movements
Eye Movements - physiology
Fear - physiology
Galvanic Skin Response - physiology
Heart rate
Heart Rate - physiology
Heart rate variability
Humans
Imagination - physiology
Male
Medical sciences
MEDICIN
MEDICINE
Nervous system
Orienting response
Oxygen - blood
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Psychiatric/Mental Health
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Refugees - psychology
Relaxation. Biofeedback. Hypnosis. Selfregulation. Meditation
Respiration
Skin Temperature - physiology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - physiopathology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy
Treatment Outcome
Treatments
Orienting response
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
Respiration
Autonomic physiology
Heart rate variability
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Human
Posttraumatic syndrome
Anxiety disorder
Carbon dioxide
Male
Refugee
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Expiratory flow rate
Stress
Heart rate
Treatment
Autonomic nervous system
Electrical conductance
Skin
Hemodynamics
ISSN:0887-6185, 1873-7897, 1873-7897
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an established treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, its working mechanism remains unclear. This study explored physiological correlates of eye movements during EMDR in relation to current hypotheses; distraction, conditioning, orienting response activation, and REM-like mechanisms. During EMDR therapy, fingertip temperature, heart rate, skin conductance, expiratory carbon dioxide level, and blood pulse oximeter oxygen saturation, were measured in male subjects with PTSD. The ratio between the low and high frequency components of the heart rate power spectrum (LF/HF) were computed as measures of autonomic balance. Respiratory rate was calculated from the carbon dioxide trace. Stimulation shifted the autonomic balance as indicated by decreases in heart rate, skin conductance and LF/HF-ratio, and an increased finger temperature. The breathing frequency and end-tidal carbon dioxide increased; oxygen saturation decreased during eye movements. In conclusion, eye movements during EMDR activate cholinergic and inhibit sympathetic systems. The reactivity has similarities with the pattern during REM-sleep.
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ISSN:0887-6185
1873-7897
1873-7897
DOI:10.1016/j.janxdis.2007.05.012