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EMDR treatment for people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review about difficulties and adaptations (Frontiers in Psychiatry)

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Home / Resources / EMDR treatment for people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review about difficulties and adaptations (Frontiers in Psychiatry)

EMDR treatment for people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review about difficulties and adaptations

A systematic review to identify difficulties and adaptations in using EMDR therapy with people with intellectual disabilities (ID).


Article Abstract

“Introduction: People with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at increased risk for developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Emerging evidence indicates that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is feasible and potentially effective for this group. However, communication, cognition, stress regulation, and attachment difficulties may interfere with the EMDR process. Adaptation of the EMDR protocol seems therefore required for this population. Aim: This review aims to systematically identify and categorize the difficulties in applying EMDR to people with ID and the adaptations made by therapists to overcome these challenges. Method: A literature search was performed in May 2023. Article selection was based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and quality appraisal. Results: After screening,13 articles remained for further review. The identified difficulties and adaptations were categorized into the three domains of adaptive functioning (i.e., conceptual, social, and practical functioning). Considerable difficulties in applying the EMDR protocol for this group were reported. The adaptations made by therapists to overcome these difficulties were highly variable. They could be divided into three main categories: adaptions in EMDR delivery (e.g., tuning to the developmental level of the client, simplifying language, decreasing pace), involvement of others (e.g., involving family or support staff during or in between sessions), and the therapeutic relationship (e.g., taking more time, supportive attitude). Discussion: The variability of the number of mentioned difficulties and adaptations per study seems to be partly related to the specific EMDR protocol that was used. In particular, when the Shapiro adult protocol was administered, relatively more detailed difficulties and adaptations were described than in publications based on derived existing versions of an EMDR protocol for children and adolescents. A probable explanation is that already embedded modifications in these protocols facilitate the needed attunement to the client’s level of functioning. Practical implications: The authors of this review suggest that EMDR protocols for children and adolescents could be adapted for people with an intellectual disability. Further research should focus on the involvement of trusted others in EMDR therapy for people with ID and the therapeutic relationship from an attachment and relational-based perspective.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access 

Schipper-Eindhoven, S. M., de Knegt, N. C., Mevissen, L., van Loon, J., de Vries, R., Zhuniq, M., & Bekker, M. H. (2023). EMDR treatment for people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review about difficulties and adaptations. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14: 1328310. Open access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1328310

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

View the Resource
Basic Info Collapse

Date
January 11, 2024

Creator(s)
Simone M. Schipper-Eindhoven, Nanda C. de Knegt, Liesbeth Mevissen

Contributor(s)
Jos van Loon, Ralph de Vries, Majlinda Zhuniq, Marrie H. Bekker

Client Population
Disabilities

Practice & Methods
DEI/IDEA

More Info Collapse

Extent
13 pages

Publisher
Frontiers

Rights
© 2024 Schipper-Eindhoven, de Knegt, Mevissen, van Loon, de Vries, Zhuniq and Bekker. 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
Schipper-Eindhoven, S. M., de Knegt, N. C., Mevissen, L., van Loon, J., de Vries, R., Zhuniq, M., & Bekker, M. H. (2023). EMDR treatment for people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review about difficulties and adaptations. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14: 1328310. Open access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1328310 

Audience
EMDR Therapists

Language
English

Content Type
Article, Meta-analyses/Systematic Reviews

Access Type
Open Access

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