Editorial on the Research Topic: Present and future of EMDR in clinical psychology and psychotherapy, volume III

In the evolving landscape of mental health treatment, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy continues to stand out as one of the most transformative therapeutic approaches. Building on the foundations laid in the previous two volumes (Castelnuovo et al., 2019; Onofri, 2023), this third installment of Present and Future of EMDR in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy advances both theoretical understanding and clinical applications of EMDR therapy, expanding its scope beyond traditional trauma treatment.

Volume I, published in 2017, introduced a wide array of clinical evidence, showcasing EMDR therapy’s effectiveness across conditions such as PTSD (Yurtsever et al., 2018; Wilson et al., 2018; Moreno-Alcázar et al., 2017), panic (Horst et al., 2017), depression (Hase et al., 2018; Ostacoli et al., 2018), somatic disorders (Szpringer et al., 2018) and other conditions (Carletto et al., 2018; Valiente-Gómez et al., 2017).

Volume II, released in 2023, highlighted EMDR therapy’s adaptability also during the COVID-19 pandemic and its integration with other therapeutic modalities (Lazzaroni et al., 2021, 2022; Faretta et al., 2022; Yurtsever et al., 2022; Fernandez et al., 2022; Farrell et al., 2022). Together, these works have underscored the sustained growth and innovative evolution of EMDR.

This third volume reflects a further understanding of EMDR therapy’s mechanisms, emphasizing its flexibility and broad applicability.

As we introduce the third volume of Present and Future of EMDR in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, we continue to witness significant advancements in the application and understanding of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. In recent years, research has proliferated, demonstrating the efficacy of EMDR therapy in addressing trauma (Wright et al., 2024; Torres-Giménez et al., 2024; Matthijssen et al., 2024), panic (Inci Izmir et al., 2024), eating disorders (Rossi et al., 2024), mood disorders (Seok and Kim, 2024), psychosis (Varese et al., 2024; Marlow et al., 2024; Every-Palmer et al., 2024; Strelchuk et al., 2024), chronic pain (Vock et al.), and various other psychological conditions (Rodríguez-Garay and Mosquera, 2022; Martínez-Fernández et al., 2024; Schipper-Eindhoven et al., 2024; Zat Çiftçi et al., 2024; Stingl et al., 2024; Bal and Kiriş, 2024; Hafkemeijer et al., 2024). This volume reflects the ongoing commitment of the EMDR community to explore new clinical areas and expand our understanding of its therapeutic potential.”