EMDR in the Treatment of Medically Unexplained Symptoms: A Systematic Review

This systematic review presents evidence for the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in the treatment of a diverse range of medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). Theoretical underpinning, variations in interventions, methodological issues, and outcomes are discussed, and implications for future research and clinical practice are presented. Considering the limited number of reported case series and the lack of controlled studies, it might be concluded that EMDR for MUS is only in its infancy. The preliminary results suggest that EMDR might be an effective treatment for MUS and somatoform disorders, particularly when they are related to trauma. To date, the results for phantom limb pain are the most promising.