EMDR service evaluation: The impact of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and risk in high secure forensic patients

This study aims to measure the efficacy of EMDR in reducing symptoms of PTSD and related risk to self and others in patients from an NHS high secure hospital with a psychiatric diagnosis of serious mental disorder and PTSD, utilising third-party nursing observations from patients’ notes.

Article Abstract

“Previous studies have identified that certain conditions and connections must be present for eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) to act as an ‘agent of change’ due to the complexity of EMDR, trauma and psychosis (Shapiro, 2001). This service evaluation of EMDR will be the first of its kind to use multiple patients from an NHS high secure hospital with a psychiatric diagnosis of serious mental disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It aims to measure the efficacy of EMDR in reducing symptoms of PTSD and related risk to self and others by utilising third-party nursing observations from patients’ notes. Using content analysis, the electronic case notes of four high secure patients made during the six months before and six months after EMDR were compared, along with the total number of symptoms.

On average, patients showed more symptoms before EMDR (M = 80.5) than after EMDR (M = 62.3). However, a Wilcoxon test indicated this improvement was not statistically significant between the overall totals or when split between symptoms. Although the results were statistically non-significant, clinically, this service evaluation highlights that EMDR has a place in reducing severe mental distress and associated risk, and the importance of an individualised trauma-informed approach when developing and delivering services with complex populations. Conclusions are drawn on EMDR’s impact on PTSD symptoms and related risk to support patient progression from high secure care in line with the high secure hospital’s least restrictive practice directions.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access

Stewart, L., Lamerton, C., Moore, C., & Willmot, P. (2025, Autumn). EMDR service evaluation: The impact of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and risk in high secure forensic patients. EMDR Therapy Quarterly. https://etq.emdrassociation.org.uk/2025/11/11/emdr-service-evaluation-the-impact-of-eye-movement-desensitisation-and-reprocessing-on-symptoms-of-posttraumatic-stress-disorder-and-risk-in-high-secure-forensic-patients/