EYE-MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING IN EATING DISORDERS - CAUTION AGAINST PREMATURE ACCEPTANCE

Objective: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has be en claimed effective in the treatment: of wide variety of psychiatric disorders, including eating disorders. An informal survey suggests tha t EMDR is now widely offered to patients with eating disorders. Before accepting a new therapy such as EMDR, one must determine that its ben efits outweigh its adverse effects. This paper reviews the literature in an attempt to assess the benefits and risks of the use of EMDR in t he treatment of eating disorders. Method. We reviewed the literature o n the use of EMDR to treat eating disorders and other conditions. Resu lts: Looking at the question of its benefits, we were unable to find a ny methodologically sound studies that have shown efficacy for EMDR in eating disorders, or, indeed, any psychiatric disorder. We were also unable to find a sound theoretical basis for expecting EMDR to be effe ctive. In addition, EMDR may have adverse effects. First, EMDR is some times used in conjunction with efforts to ''recover'' memories of trau matic events. But ''recovered memory'' therapy may carry a risk of ind ucing potentially harmful false memories. Second, use of EMDR may prev ent or delay other therapies of established efficacy for eating disord ers, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressants. Discuss ion: In light of the findings of our review, the risk/benefit ratio of EMDR does not as yet encourage its widespread acceptance. (C) 1998 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.