COVID-19 patients treated with EMDR therapy

This study shows that EMDR therapy constitutes an effective therapeutic intervention for treating adverse psychological outcomes experienced by patients admitted to intensive care units due to the COVID-19 virus. The significant decrease of anxiety, depression and fear of the unknown after four sessions and at one week follow-up suggests that the patients’ adaptive coping mechanisms improved. The authors imply that EMDR therapy given within three months after hospital discharge may prevent the chronic development of the disorder and potential onset of PTSD.

While these results are very promising, future research should continue to explore how EMDR therapy can be used in reactive disorders, since this study is limited due to the small sample size and the lack of a control group. 

Full text link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468749922000187