Course Description

Severe depression is one of the most common mental disorders and affects between 15-20% of the general population in their lifetimes. Although many psycho-therapeutic and pharmacologic interventions exist that are considered to be effective in depression, the treatment results are often less than satisfactory. High relapse rates (ranging at 50% after two years), unsatisfactory remissions, and suicidal risks are among the major problems. EMDR is internationally recognized as one of the most effective tools to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (WHO 2013). More and more studies now show that stressful life events play a major role also in depressive disorders. Therefore, it makes sense, that EMDR comes more and more into focus as a new intervention tool in the treatment of depressive disorders. Our European EDEN study group has conducted research on the subject since 2007, published 5 controlled studies (three of them RCTs), and treated at least 500 depressive patients using our DeprEnd manual. The studies and our cases show that EMDR is at least equal to CBT treatment in depression (equivalence) but seems to result in more complete remissions than other interventions. EMDR may also lead to a decreased risk of relapses, as an incomplete remission increases the risk of relapse 5 times. In the workshop, the evidence will be presented and our treatment manual (DeprEndr protocol) will be introduced in this presentation by Arne Hofmann, M.D.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to describe how the AIP model can change the view on depressive disorders.
2. Participants will be able to describe how introducing EMDR in the depression treatment changes the treatment results.
3. Participants will be able to develop a practical treatment plan with the EMDR DeprEnd protocol.

Presenter(s)

Arne Hoffman, M.D.

Dr. Arne Hofmann is a specialist for internal and psychosomatic medicine. He is head of the EMDR-Institute Germany and co-leader of an EMDR Trauma hospital near Cologne. He learned about EMDR in 1991 during a residency at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, and has learned EMDR there from Dr. Shapiro. He has introduced EMDR in German-speaking countries, founded one of the first inpatient units for victims of trauma in Germany, and has helped to develop aftercare programs after mass disasters. Dr. Hofmann is a founding board member of EMDR-Europe, a founding and honorary member of the German-speaking Society of Traumatic Stress Disorders (DeGPT) and a member of the German national guideline commission for the treatment of PTSD. He is teaching, researching, and publishing internationally in the field of psychological trauma, EMDR, and depression. He has received a number of scientific awards, including the EMDRIA Award for outstanding research in 2015 and 2018. For his work, he was also rewarded with the German Federal Cross of Merit.