Severe depression is one of the most common mental disorders and it affects between 15-20 % of the general population during their lifetimes. Although many interventions exist, 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.

A growing number of studies show that stressful life events play a major role in sparking and sustaining depressive disorders. EMDR therapy and its capacity for reprocessing past events is increasingly being recognized as a powerful intervention tool approach the treatment of depressive disorders. In the last 10 years, Hofmann and colleagues within his focused research study group have completed 10 randomized controlled studies that show that EMDR is at least equal to CBT treatment in depression by various measures. In addition, EMDR has been demonstrated to result in more complete remissions than CBT, which shows its superior capacity to reduce the risk of relapse. This clinical and research team developed and tested specific EMDR approaches to treating depression consistent with the standard EMDR protocol. This led to the development and validation of the DeprEnd protocol for EMDR treatment of depression.

This online course will provide an initial overview of needs for effective treatment for depression and then a focus on the practical application of the treatment manual and procedures for the DeprEnd protocol. The course will explain the five steps of the protocol and discuss the “how to do” practical steps in detail. The benefits and ways to implement the “Symptom event map” tool will be described as a structured way to work with negative belief systems. Clinical case examples will be included.