Use of therapist rotation model for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in a patient with atopic dermatitis

This case report aims to demonstrate the effect of EMDR on atopic dermatitis (AD) patients and to use the therapist rotation model  (TRM) in these patients.

Article Abstract

“Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease, and it has a chronic relapsing course (1). AD is characterized by pruritus, erythema, lichenification, and excoriation of the skin (2). Bidirectional association has been demonstrated between AD and psychiatric conditions. While AD contributes to depression and anxiety disorders, psychosocial stressors are considered as risk factors for AD (3,4,5).

Multidisciplinary approaches have been offered and various psychotherapy models have been performed for AD patients (6,7).

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a validated psychotherapeutic Approach, the goal of which is to treat traumatic memories and related symptoms. Despite its initial use for trauma-related disorders, EMDR therapy is now effectively applied for awide variety of stress related physical disorders such as chronic pain and psychogenic seizures (8,9).

The key aspect of EMDR is the patient’s attention being directed to an external stimuli, such as doing conjugate eye movements or exposing the patient to alternating bilateral audio stimulation while the patient is simultaneously focused on a recognized source of emotional distress. The therapy parameters were the mental image of the traumatic or stressful situation; the negative cognition (NC) associated with the image, the positive cognition (PC) with which the patient wishes to replace the negative cognition. PC is estimated by using validity of cognition (VOC) scale. The amount of disturbance associated with the emotion is measured using subjective units of disturbance (SUD) scale (10).

The therapist rotation model (TRM) is a novel approach for EMDR (10). The aim of this model is to increase use of trauma-focused therapies (TFTs) by group supervision of the therapists. TRM was successfully used for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (11). We found only two case reports of EMDR therapy for the dermatologic diseases (12,13). Thus, in this study, we aim to demonstrate the effect of EMDR on AD patients. Our second goal is to use TRM in these patients.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access

Yasar, A. B., Yanartas, O., Cam C. S., Budak, C., Topcuoglu, V., & Ergun, T. (2022). Use of therapist rotation model for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in a patient with atopic dermatitis. Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 12(1), 45-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/PBS.20211215090126  Open access retrieval: https://openaccess.marmara.edu.tr/entities/publication/2fdd14ad-7714-4357-ad8b-915b006515a1