Case report: Brief, intensive EMDR therapy for borderline personality disorder: Results of two case studies with one year follow-up
Follow up on two case studies in which EMDR therapy was used to treat borderline personality disorder.
Article Abstract
“Background: Exposure to adverse childhood events plays an important role in the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Emerging evidence suggests that trauma-focused therapy using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) can be beneficial for patients with BPD symptoms. To date, the effects of brief, intensive EMDR treatment for this target group have not been investigated in this population.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a brief and intensive trauma-focused therapy course using EMDR therapy in two patients diagnosed with BPD who did not fulfill the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It was hypothesized that this approach would be associated with a decline in the core symptoms of BPD, and that this would have an enduring long-term effect on patients’ diagnostic status.
Method: Ten sessions of EMDR therapy were carried out across four consecutive treatment days, with the aim of processing patients’ core adverse childhood experiences. Both A-criterion-worthy memories (without intrusive reliving) and non-A-criterion-worthy memories that were considered responsible for the patients’ most prominent symptoms were targeted. The effects of EMDR therapy on trauma symptom severity and BPD diagnostic status (as established by the Structured Clinical Interview DSM-5) were determined. Additionally, the effects on psychological distress, quality of life, and difficulties in emotion regulation were determined at intake, post-treatment, and at 3-, 6-, and 12-months follow-up.
Results: Both patients showed a strong decline in psychological distress and difficulties in emotion regulation, and reported an improvement in their quality of life. At post-treatment, and at 3-, 6-, and 12-months follow-up they no longer met the DSM-5 criteria for BPD.
Conclusion: The findings of this small case study are in line with mounting evidence that a brief track of intensive trauma-focused therapy can result in long-term remission in patients with BPD. EMDR therapy seems to be a promising treatment approach for patients with BPD; however, the results need to be replicated in clinical trials.
—Description from publisher
Article Access
Open Access
Hafkemeijer, L., Slotema, K., de Haard, N., & de Jongh, A. (2023). Case report: Brief, intensive EMDR therapy for borderline personality disorder: Results of two case studies with one year follow-up. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14: 1283145. Open access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1283145
About the Journal
“Frontiers in Psychiatry is an interdisciplinary journal that focuses on translational and ‘bench-to-beside’ approaches to improve therapeutic options for mental illness and consequently to improve patient treatment outcomes.”
—Description from publisher
Date
December 15, 2023
Creator(s)
Laurian Hafkemeijer, Karin Slotema, Nicole de Haard
Contributor(s)
Ad de Jongh
Topics
Personality Disorders
Extent
9 pages
Publisher
Frontiers
Rights
© 2023 Hafkemeijer, Slotema, de Haard and de Jongh. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
APA Citation
Hafkemeijer, L., Slotema, K., de Haard, N., & de Jongh, A. (2023). Case report: Brief, intensive EMDR therapy for borderline personality disorder: Results of two case studies with one year follow-up. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14: 1283145. Open access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1283145
Audience
EMDR Therapists
Language
English
Content Type
Article
Access Type
Open Access