TY - JOUR AU - Wetherell, Silvia PY - 2022/12/01 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Investigating the impact of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in reducing birth trauma symptoms JF - Annals of Psychophysiology JA - Ann. psychophysiol. VL - 9 IS - 2 SE - ORIGINAL ARTICLE DO - 10.29052/2412-3188.v9.i2.2022.67-75 UR - https://aeirc-edu.com/ojs14/index.php/app/article/view/570 SP - 67-75 AB - <p><strong>Background:</strong>&nbsp;Childbirth-related traumatic experiences are an overlooked area of psychological suffering, often leading to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and difficulties in bonding between mother and baby. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing as a brief psychological intervention in reducing Birth Trauma symptoms.</p><p><strong>Methodology:</strong>&nbsp;Using a prospective experimental longitudinal design, 12 women residing in Singapore with Birth Trauma symptoms received three 90-minute eye-movement and desensitization (EMDR) sessions over two weeks on average. Participants were assessed through two trauma self-report questionnaires and underwent a brief Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) assessment.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong>&nbsp;Post-treatment assessment showed significant differences in mean trauma scores with a 76% reduction on the Modified Perinatal PTSD Questionnaire (<em>z&nbsp;</em>= -3.061,&nbsp;<em>p</em>&nbsp;= .002) and 70% reduction on the Impact of Event Scale Revised (<em>z&nbsp;</em>= -3.061,&nbsp;<em>p</em>&nbsp;= 0.002). Skin conductance response changes from baseline to stressor reduced by 4% but were not statistically significant (<em>z&nbsp;</em>= -.863,&nbsp;<em>p</em>&nbsp;= 0.39).</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong>&nbsp;Brief EMDR has shown promise as an effective treatment for Birth Trauma. Larger controlled randomized studies are required to evaluate the effectiveness of EMDR when compared to a placebo control group.</p> ER -