EMDR Interventions for Acute Stress: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5944/rdp.v36i132.45968Keywords:
EMDR, INTERVENCIONES TEMPRANAS, TRAUMA AGUDO, TEPT, CONTEXTOS DE EMERGENCIA, EFECTIVIDAD CLINICA, REVISIÓN SISTEMATICAAbstract
This systematic review analyzes the available empirical evidence on the efficacy of early interventions based on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) applied to adults within three months of exposure to potentially traumatic events. We included 14 studies with diverse methodological designs, using abbreviated versions of the standard protocol and specific adaptations in diverse contexts (such as sexual violence, terrorism, natural disasters, armed conflicts, medical hospitalization and workplace violence). Overall, the results show a significant reduction in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and psychological distress after the intervention. The dissociative symptoms were only addressed in one study. Although clearly conditioned by the difficulties inherent in research in emergency contexts, the methodological quality of the studies was mostly low, due to limited randomization, small sample sizes, and short follow-up periods. Despite these limitations, the findings suggest that EMDR protocols adapted for acute stress could be a promising alternative. The need for more rigorous controlled studies, with greater statistical power and longitudinal follow-up, is underlined to validate their efficacy and optimize their implementation in clinical and community contexts.
Downloads
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2017). Clinical practice guideline for
the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. APA Publishing.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical
manual of mental disorders: DSM-5™ (5th ed.). American Psychiatric
Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Bisson, J. I., Berliner, L., Cloitre, M., Forbes, D., Jensen, T. K., Lewis,
C., Monson, C. M., Olff, M., Pilling, S., Riggs, D. S., Roberts, N. P.,
& Shapiro, F. (2019). The International Society for Traumatic Stress
Studies new guidelines for the prevention and treatment of posttraumatic
stress disorder: Methodology and development process. Journal of
Traumatic Stress, 32(4), 475–483. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22421
Bonanno, G. A. (2004). Loss, trauma, and human resilience: Have
we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely
aversive events? American Psychologist, 59(1), 20–28. https://doi.
org/10.1037/0003-066X.59.1.20
Bonanno, G. A., Westphal, M., & Mancini, A. D. (2011). Resilience to loss
and potential trauma. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 7, 511–535.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032210-104526
Brennstuhl, M.-J., Tarquinio, P., Rydberg, J. A., Tarquinio, C. L., Peter, L.,
Rotonda, C., & Tarquinio, C. (2022). Treating COVID-19 patients with
EMDR: A pilot study. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 6(3),
Article 100276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejtd.2022.100276
Brewin, C. R., Andrews, B., & Valentine, J. D. (2000). Meta-analysis
of risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed
adults. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(5), 748–
766. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.68.5.748
Bryant, R. A. (2011). Acute stress disorder as a predictor of posttraumatic
stress disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry,
72(2), 233–239. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.09r05072blu
Covers, M. L. V., de Jongh, A., Huntjens, R. J. C., de Roos, C., van den Hout,
M., & Bicanic, I. A. E. (2021). Early intervention with eye movement
desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to reduce the severity
of post-traumatic stress symptoms in recent rape victims: A randomized
controlled trial. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1),
1943188. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1943188
Deen, A., Biedermann, S. V., Lotzin, A., Krüger-Gottschalk, A., Dyer, A.,
Knaevelsrud, C., ... & Schäfer, I. (2022). The dissociative subtype of PTSD
in trauma-exposed individuals: A latent class analysis and examination
of clinical covariates. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 13(1).
https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2022.2031591
Gil-Jardiné, C., Evrard, G., Al Joboory, S., Tortes Saint Jammes, J., Masson,
F., Ribéreau Gayon, R., Galinski, M., Salmi, L. R., Revel, P., Régis, C. A.,
Valdenaire, G., & Lagarde, E. (2018). Emergency room intervention to
prevent post concussion like symptoms and post traumatic stress disorder:
A pilot randomized controlled study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 103,
229–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.05.024
Guzman Torres, E., Krause-Utz, A., & Sack, M. (2023). Predictors of
complex PTSD: The role of trauma characteristics, dissociation, and
comorbid psychopathology. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion
Dysregulation, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-022-00208-7
Jarero, I., Artigas, L., & Lauber, M. (2011). The EMDR protocol for recent
critical incidents: Application in a disaster mental health continuum of
care context. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 5(3), 82–94.
https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.5.3.82
Jarero, I., Uribe, S., Artigas, L., & Givaudan, M. (2015). EMDR protocol for
recent critical incidents: A randomized controlled trial in a technological
disaster context. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 9(4), 166-
173. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.9.4.166
Jarero, I., Artigas, L., & Uribe, S. (2013). EMDR individual protocol for
paraprofessional use: A randomized controlled trial with first responders.
Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 7(2), 55–64. https://doi.
org/10.1891/1933-3196.7.2.55
Jarero, I., & Uribe, S. (2012). The EMDR protocol for recent critical
incidents: Follow-up report of an application in a human massacre
situation. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 6(2), 50–61. https://
doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.6.2.50
Jarero, I., & Artigas, L. (2016). The EMDR Protocol for Recent
Critical Incidents (EMDR-PRECI): Application in a technological
disaster. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 10(4), 199–
207. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.9.2.98
Kutz, I., Resnik, V., & Dekel, R. (2008). The effect of single-session
modified EMDR on acute stress syndromes. Journal of EMDR Practice
and Research, 2(3), 190–200. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.2.3.190
McGaugh, J. L. (2004). The amygdala modulates the consolidation of memories
of emotionally arousing experiences. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 27,
1–28. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.neuro.27.070203.144157
McGuire, A. P., Gauthier, J. M., Anderson, L. M., Hollingsworth, D. W.,
Tracy, M., Galea, S., & Coffey, S. F. (2014). Social support moderates
effects of natural disaster exposure on depression and posttraumatic
stress disorder symptoms. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 27(2), 205–
211. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.21900
Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder
Work Group. (2023). VA/DoD clinical practice guideline for the
management of posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder:
Version 4.0. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of
Defense. https://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/MH/ptsd/
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & The PRISMA
Group. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews
and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, 6(7),
e1000097. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097
Morris, H., Hatzikiriakidis, K., Dwyer, J., Lewis, C., Halfpenny, N., Miller,
R., & Skouteris, H. (2023). Early intervention for residential out-ofhome
care staff using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
(EMDR). Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and
Policy, 15(Suppl. 2), S456–S464. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001418
National Center for PTSD. (2023). Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) Factsheet.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/index.asp
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2018). Post traumatic
stress disorder (NICE guideline No. NG116). https://www.nice.org.uk/
guidance/ng116
Phelps, A. J., Lethbridge, R., Brennan, S., Bryant, R. A., Burns, P., Cooper,
J. A., ... & Silove, D. (2022). Australian guidelines for the prevention and
treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: Updates in the third edition.
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 56(3), 230–247.
https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674211041917
Russell, M. C. (2006). Treating combat-related stress disorders: A multiple
case study utilizing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
(EMDR) with battlefield casualties from the Iraqi War. Military
Psychology, 18(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327876mp1801_1
Saltini, A., Rebecchi, D., Callerame, C., Fernandez, I., Bergonzini,
E., & Starace, F. (2017). Early Eye Movement Desensitisation and
Reprocessing (EMDR) intervention in a disaster mental health care
context. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 23(3), 285–294. https://doi.
org/10.1080/13548506.2017.1344255
Schauer, M., Neuner, F., & Elbert, T. (2011). Narrative Exposure Therapy: A
short-term intervention for traumatic stress disorders (2nd ed.). Hogrefe
Publishing.
Shapiro, E., & Laub, B. (2008). Early EMDR intervention (EEI): A
summary, a theoretical model, and the recent traumatic episode protocol
(R-TEP). Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 2(2), 79–96. https://
doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.2.2.79
Shapiro, E., & Laub, B. (2015). Early EMDR intervention (EEI) following
trauma. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 9(1), 17–28. https://
doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.9.1.17
Sterne, J. A. C., Savović, J., & Page, M. J. (2019). “RoB 2: A Revised
Tool for Assessing Risk of Bias in Randomised Trials.” BMJ (Clinical
Research Ed.) 366: l4898. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4898
Tarquinio, C., Brennstuhl, M. J., Reichenbach, S., Rydberg, J. A., & Tarquinio,
P. (2012). Early psychological intervention for rape victims: A pilot study
of the EMDR Recent Event Protocol. European Review of Applied
Psychology, 62(4), 219–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2012.05.001
Tarquinio, C., Brennstuhl, M.-J., Rydberg, J. A., Bassan, F., Peter, L.,
Tarquinio, C. L., Auxéméry, Y., Rotonda, C., & Tarquinio, P. (2020).
EMDR in telemental health counseling for healthcare workers caring
for COVID-19 patients: A pilot study. Issues in Mental Health Nursing,
42(1), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2020.1818014
Tarquinio, C., Rotonda, C., Houllé, W. A., Montel, S., Rydberg, J. A.,
Minary, L., Dellucci, H., Tarquinio, P., Fayard, A., & Alla, F. (2016).
Early psychological preventive intervention for workplace violence: A
randomized controlled explorative and comparative study between EMDR
recent event and critical incident stress debriefing. Issues in Mental Health
Nursing, 37(11), 787–799. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2016.1224282
Torres-Giménez, Anna, et al. (2024). Efficacy of EMDR for early
intervention after a traumatic event: A systematic review and metaanalysis.
Journal of Psychiatric Research 174, 73-83. https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.04.019
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense. (2023). VA/
DoD clinical practice guidelines: Management of posttraumatic stress
disorder and acute stress disorder 2023. https://www.healthquality.
va.gov/guidelines/MH/ptsd/
Wesson, M., & Gould, M. (2009). Intervening early with EMDR on military
operations: A case study. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 3(2),
91–97. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.3.2.91
World Health Organization. (2013). Guidelines for the management of
conditions specifically related to stress. https://apps
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 HANNAH ANTONIA FIEBACH, YOLANDA BALLESTEROS, ALMUDENA TRUCHARTE, ALBA CONTRERAS, Carmen Valiente
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal accept the following conditions:
-
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, with the work registered under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC 4.0 International license. This license allows third parties to cite the text and use it without alteration and for non-commercial purposes, provided they credit the authorship of the work and its first publication in this journal.
-
Authors may enter into other independent and additional contractual agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the version of the article published in this journal (e.g., including it in an institutional repository or publishing it in a book), provided they clearly indicate that the work was first published in this journal.
-
The views expressed in the articles are solely the responsibility of the authors and in no case do they reflect the opinions or scientific policies of the journal.
