The efficacy of EMDR therapy in adults with a severe intellectual disability and posttraumatic stress disorder
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the EMDR storytelling method in seven adults with severe intellectual disabilities (SID) and PTSD.
Article Abstract
“Background: Individuals with severe intellectual disabilities (SID; IQ 20–35) are believed to be at heightened risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, research targeting trauma treatment in individuals with SID remains limited, and controlled intervention studies are scarce.
Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) storytelling method in seven adults with SID and PTSD.
Method: A multiple baseline design was used in seven adults with SID and PTSD to evaluate the efficacy of the EMDR storytelling method in reducing dysfunctional behaviours, PTSD symptoms, and challenging behaviours immediately after treatment and at three-month follow-up assessment.
Results: Immediately after EMDR therapy and at three-month follow-up, significant reductions in dysfunctional behaviours and PTSD symptoms were observed at group level. At individual level, reductions in PTSD symptoms were observed in most participants, whereas results for dysfunctional behaviours were mixed. No group-level changes were found for challenging behaviours while individual outcomes were stable for the total score but varied across the BPI subscales (self-injury, stereotypical, and aggressive behaviours). No sessions were discontinued prematurely, and no adverse events were reported.
Conclusions: This study provides preliminary support for the safety, suitability, and potential efficacy of the EMDR storytelling method in reducing PTSD symptoms.
Highlights
- After EMDR storytelling, PTSD symptoms decreased in adults with severe intellectual disability and PTSD.
- Dysfunctional behaviour decreased at group level, with mixed individual effects.
- The intervention appeared feasible and safe, providing preliminary support for its use.”
—Description from publisher
Article Access
Open Access
Hoogstad, A., Bouwmeester, S., Mevissen, L., & Didden, R. (2026). The efficacy of EMDR therapy in adults with a severe intellectual disability and posttraumatic stress disorder. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 17(1), 2673670. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2026.2673670
Date
June 9, 2026
Creator(s)
Annemieke Hoogstad, Samantha Bouwmeester, Liesbeth Mevissen
Contributor(s)
Robert Didden
Topics
PTSD
Client Population
Disabilities
Extent
13 pages
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Rights
© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
APA Citation
Hoogstad, A., Bouwmeester, S., Mevissen, L., & Didden, R. (2026). The efficacy of EMDR therapy in adults with a severe intellectual disability and posttraumatic stress disorder. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 17(1), 2673670. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2026.2673670
Audience
EMDR Therapists
Language
English, Spanish
Content Type
Article, Peer-Reviewed
Access Type
External Resource, Open Access
