Literature review: The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for race-based traumatic stress with African Americans

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of race-based traumatic stress on African Americans and examine if EMDR therapy is an effective treatment modality.

Article Abstract

“Background: Race-based traumatic stress is defined as psychological and emotional stress induced by race-based offenses in the life span. Examples of this include but are not limited to overt verbal and physical racist encounters, microaggressions, housing discrimination, racist policies, racist policing practices, employment discrimination, and economic disenfranchisement. African Americans are disproportionately affected, and it is not clear if mental health treatment is effective.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of race-based traumatic stress on African Americans and examine if eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an effective treatment modality. The author sought to answer the following question: If African Americans who have been exposed to race-based traumatic stress receive EMDR therapy, will it reduce emotional and psychological distress associated with race-based trauma?

Methods: A literature review was conducted between January 22 and April 26 of 2024. The following online databases contributed to the selection of peer-reviewed articles for this literature review: APA PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL Complete, and Educational Resources Information Center. Gray literature such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s database was also explored to locate additional statistics and information concerning mental health, race-based traumatic stress, and African Americans. Reference lists of the identified articles were manually reviewed, and additional relevant articles such as primary research articles were included in the literature review.

Findings: It could not be concluded that EMDR therapy is an effective modality for treating race-based traumatic stress in African Americans. Thus, the answer appears to be unclear currently.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that further research and advocacy are necessary to better understand the effectiveness of specialized modalities and mental health care concerning treatment for African Americans.”

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Thompson, A. N. (2024). Literature review: The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for race-based traumatic stress with African Americans. Urban Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1891/USW-2024-0013

—Description from publisher