Skip to content
EMDR International Association
  • About EMDR Therapy
    • What is EMDR therapy?
      • Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model
      • EMDR Therapy & Addiction
      • EMDR Therapy & Anxiety
      • EMDR Therapy & Childhood Trauma
      • EMDR Therapy & Depression
      • EMDR Therapy & PTSD
    • Experiencing EMDR Therapy
    • EMDR Therapy in Treatment Guidelines
    • Recent Research on EMDR Therapy
    • Find an EMDR Therapist®
  • EMDR Training
    & Education
    • EMDR Education Calendar
    • EMDR Basic Training
      • 5 Steps to Take an EMDRIA™ Approved EMDR Basic Training
      • Eligibility Requirements for EMDR Basic Training
      • EMDR Basic Training FAQs
      • Training vs Certification
      • Find an EMDR Basic Training
    • Continuing Education
      • OnDemand Education
    • EMDRIA Conference
      • Call for Presentations
      • Call for Proposal Reviewers
      • Conference Speaker Resources
    • EMDRIA Summit
      • Summit Speaker Resources
    • EMDRIA™ Digital Badges
    • EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ Application
      • How to Market Yourself as an EMDRIA Certified Therapist™
      • EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ FAQs
      • Membership vs Certification
      • EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ Renewal
    • EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Application
      • Updating EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Standards
      • CIT Declaration Form
      • EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ FAQs
      • Consultation Packet
      • EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Renewal
      • Consultant Day Events
    • EMDRIA Credit Provider & Program Applications
    • EMDRIA Approved Trainer™ Application
      • EMDR Basic Training Policies & Requirements
      • Standards for EMDR Basic Training
      • Trainer Day Events
  • Publications
    & Resources
    • EMDRIA Library
    • Glossary of EMDR Terms
    • Antiracism Resources
    • Online EMDR Therapy Resources
    • Focal Point Blog
      • Subscribe to Focal Point Blog
    • Go With That Magazine®
    • Journal of EMDR Practice & Research®
    • Let’s Talk EMDR Podcast
    • Toolkits & Practice Resources
      • 8 Phases Toolkit
      • Building Your EMDR Practice Toolkit
      • Client Brochures
      • Addictions Toolkit
      • Depression Toolkit
      • EMDRIA Children’s Toolkit
      • Chronic Pain Toolkit
      • Military Toolkit
      • EMDR Consultation Toolkit
    • Kits y Recursos Prácticos
      • Folletos de Terapia EMDR
      • Kit de las 8 Fases
      • Kit de la Depresión
      • Kit del Dolor Crónico
      • Kit de los Niños y Niñas
  • EMDRIA™ Membership
    • Join EMDRIA™
      • Retired Membership
      • Agency Group Membership
      • International Affiliate Organizations
    • Member Hub
    • Renew EMDRIA™ Membership
    • Membership Benefits
    • EMDRIA™ Member Account Overview
    • Directory Profile Information
    • Membership vs Certification
  • EMDRIA Online Community
    • EMDRIA Online Community
    • EMDR Topic Forums
      • Special Interest Groups
      • Topic Forums
  • About
    EMDRIA™
    • Join EMDRIA™
    • EMDRIA™ FAQs
    • Contact EMDRIA™
    • Contact Media Relations
    • Meet the Board of Directors
      • Call for Board of Directors Nominations
    • Board News and Updates
      • Annual Membership Meeting
    • EMDR International Association™ Policies
    • EMDRIA™ Awards & Winners
    • EMDRIA Foundation
FacebookTwitterLinkedin
  • Join EMDRIA™
  • Contact
  • Find an EMDR Therapist®
EMDR International Association
Log In
  • About EMDR Therapy
    • What is EMDR therapy?
      • Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model
      • EMDR Therapy & Addiction
      • EMDR Therapy & Anxiety
      • EMDR Therapy & Childhood Trauma
      • EMDR Therapy & Depression
      • EMDR Therapy & PTSD
    • Experiencing EMDR Therapy
    • EMDR Therapy in Treatment Guidelines
    • Recent Research on EMDR Therapy
    • Find an EMDR Therapist®
  • EMDR Training
    & Education
    • EMDR Education Calendar
    • EMDR Basic Training
      • 5 Steps to Take an EMDRIA™ Approved EMDR Basic Training
      • Eligibility Requirements for EMDR Basic Training
      • EMDR Basic Training FAQs
      • Training vs Certification
      • Find an EMDR Basic Training
    • Continuing Education
      • OnDemand Education
    • EMDRIA Conference
      • Call for Presentations
      • Call for Proposal Reviewers
      • Conference Speaker Resources
    • EMDRIA Summit
      • Summit Speaker Resources
    • EMDRIA™ Digital Badges
    • EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ Application
      • How to Market Yourself as an EMDRIA Certified Therapist™
      • EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ FAQs
      • Membership vs Certification
      • EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ Renewal
    • EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Application
      • Updating EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Standards
      • CIT Declaration Form
      • EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ FAQs
      • Consultation Packet
      • EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Renewal
      • Consultant Day Events
    • EMDRIA Credit Provider & Program Applications
    • EMDRIA Approved Trainer™ Application
      • EMDR Basic Training Policies & Requirements
      • Standards for EMDR Basic Training
      • Trainer Day Events
  • Publications
    & Resources
    • EMDRIA Library
    • Glossary of EMDR Terms
    • Antiracism Resources
    • Online EMDR Therapy Resources
    • Focal Point Blog
      • Subscribe to Focal Point Blog
    • Go With That Magazine®
    • Journal of EMDR Practice & Research®
    • Let’s Talk EMDR Podcast
    • Toolkits & Practice Resources
      • 8 Phases Toolkit
      • Building Your EMDR Practice Toolkit
      • Client Brochures
      • Addictions Toolkit
      • Depression Toolkit
      • EMDRIA Children’s Toolkit
      • Chronic Pain Toolkit
      • Military Toolkit
      • EMDR Consultation Toolkit
    • Kits y Recursos Prácticos
      • Folletos de Terapia EMDR
      • Kit de las 8 Fases
      • Kit de la Depresión
      • Kit del Dolor Crónico
      • Kit de los Niños y Niñas
  • EMDRIA™ Membership
    • Join EMDRIA™
      • Retired Membership
      • Agency Group Membership
      • International Affiliate Organizations
    • Member Hub
    • Renew EMDRIA™ Membership
    • Membership Benefits
    • EMDRIA™ Member Account Overview
    • Directory Profile Information
    • Membership vs Certification
  • EMDRIA Online Community
    • EMDRIA Online Community
    • EMDR Topic Forums
      • Special Interest Groups
      • Topic Forums
  • About
    EMDRIA™
    • Join EMDRIA™
    • EMDRIA™ FAQs
    • Contact EMDRIA™
    • Contact Media Relations
    • Meet the Board of Directors
      • Call for Board of Directors Nominations
    • Board News and Updates
      • Annual Membership Meeting
    • EMDR International Association™ Policies
    • EMDRIA™ Awards & Winners
    • EMDRIA Foundation

Autism spectrum disorder and specific phobia. Treatment with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Report of two cases (Psychitria Danubina)

Article-FeaturedImage

Home / Resources / ADHD/Autism/Neurodiversity / Autism spectrum disorder and specific phobia. Treatment with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Report of two cases (Psychitria Danubina)

Autism spectrum disorder and specific phobia. Treatment with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Report of two cases

EMDR may be appropriate for patients with autism spectrum disorder as it is largely non-verbal and can be adjusted for specific conditions.


Article Abstract

“Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in social functioning and the presence of restricted interests and repetitive behaviors (American Psychiatric Association 2013). One of the most common psychiatric comorbidities of ASD is anxiety disorder; one study has found that 40% of children with ASD also present with specific phobias (SP) (Mayes et al. 2013).

Temporary fears of animals or of supernatural phenomena are normal in children of certain ages, but when these fears are extreme, last longer than six months, are accompanied by intense physiological symptoms, and cause avoidance of the source of distress, they can be defined as specific phobias. The DSM-5 includes five main types of specific phobias: animal, natural environment, blood injection injury, situational, and other (American Psychiatric Association 2013).

Various treatment strategies can be used to reduce phobic symptoms. Most case studies support the use of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and/or behavior therapy. Exposure-based therapies and cognitive restructuring have also been used to effectively treat most specific phobias. However, in vivo exposure may be a difficult treatment for certain phobias, such as flight or wasp phobias. EMDR offers a more accessible short exposure route to therapy (Jongh & Broeke 2009).

In addition, people with ASD may demonstrate deficiencies in areas such as communication/language, ability to participate and stay on task, comprehension skills, and imitation skills; these abilities may be required for the most common phobia treatments (Ellis et al. 2006). Since many methods used to treat specific phobia may be challenging for individuals with ASD, EMDR may offer a viable alternative treatment.

The purpose of the present case report is to explore the viability and effectiveness of EMDR as a treatment for two cases of patients with ASD and specific phobias. EMDR may be an appropriate therapy for patients with ASD as this treatment is largely non-verbal and can be adjusted for specific conditions, such as age and autism.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access

Firat, S., Atik, S., & Herguner, S. (2023). Autism spectrum disorder and specific phobia. Treatment with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Report of two cases. Psychitria Danubina, 35(3), 440-444. Open access: https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2023.440

View the Resource
Basic Info Collapse

Date
May 8, 2022

Creator(s)
Sumeyra Firat, Serdar Atik, Sabri Herguner

Topics
ADHD/Autism/Neurodiversity, Anxiety/Panic/Phobias

Client Population
Children

More Info Collapse

Extent
5 pages

Publisher
Psychiatria Danubina

Rights
© Medicinska naklada & Pro mente, Zagreb, Croatia

APA Citation
Firat, S., Atik, S., & Herguner, S. (2023). Autism spectrum disorder and specific phobia. Treatment with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Report of two cases. Psychitria Danubina, 35(3), 440-444. Open access: https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2023.440

Audience
EMDR Therapists, Other Mental Health Professionals

Language
English

Content Type
Article, Peer-Reviewed

Access Type
External Resource, Open Access

Related Resources

EMDR Therapy and Military Resource List

Read More

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy as a feasible and potential effective treatment for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a history of adverse events (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorder)

Read More

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in children and adults with autism (Springer, 2020)

Read More

Find an EMDR Therapist®

EMDRIA™ has more than 16,000 members trained to provide EMDR Therapy. Find a therapist near you.

Find an EMDR Therapist®
sun-flare-min
logo-emdria-grayscale-min

7000 N Mo Pac Expy
Ste 200
Austin, TX 78731-3013

Email info@emdria.org

Phone 512-451-5200

EMDRIA Facebook EMDRIA Twitter EMDRIA LinkedIn EMDRIA YouTube EMDRIA Online Community
  • About EMDR Therapy
  • EMDR Training and Education
  • EMDRIA™ Membership
  • Publications & Resources
  • EMDRIA Online Community
  • EMDRIA Foundation
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sitemap
gold-circle-2022

© 1995-2025 EMDR International Association™. All rights reserved.

Website by Yoko Co

  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • Please be aware that email is not a secure means of communication and spam filters may prevent your email from reaching the therapist. We recommend you follow up with a phone call. Sending an email using this page does not guarantee that the recipient will receive, read, or respond to your email.

    If this is an emergency do not use this form. Call 911 or your nearest hospital.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

We use cookies to ensure the best website experience. See our privacy policy to learn more.OkPrivacy policy