Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in PTSD: Neurobiology and its applications in other mental disorders

The number of researchers focused on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) have increased dramatically, often finding that neuroimaging is a powerful tool for investigating EMDR’s neurobiological correlates. EMDR has been recommended by several guidelines, along with trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), as a frontline treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Furthermore, the application of EMDR beyond PTSD has expanded rapidly and recent scholars have underlined its efficacy to successfully treat two major public health problems-depression and addiction. This chapter provides an overview of EMDR’s clinical value as well as a review of the scholarship, particularly those studies that stress the role of versatile psychotherapy in treating pathological conditions in which the role of past traumatic events has been ascertained.