Media Room

Researchers working under the auspices of University of the Rockies in Colorado Springs reported today the discovery of the mechanism of action of the principal psychological treatment for PTSD, known as EMDR. They found that EMDR induces in the frontal lobes of the brain (specifically the ventral medial prefrontal area) a state similar to that of slow wave sleep. During slow wave sleep the brain processes the day's memories through 'normalization' of the synapses that make up the memory recorded in the hippocampus and amygdala, and stores the memory in the frontal lobes. A similar process occurs during EMDR therapy as the therapist guides the patient in remembering the emotions accompanying a fear memory while applying low intensity brain stimulation such as vibrating pads held in the palms of the patient's hands.

Dr. M. L. Harper, lead investigator with Dr. Tasha R. Kalhorn (UoR alumnus) said: "We were surprised to find that the power and frequency of the brain waves induced in the frontal cortex, where memories are stored, were almost precisely like those of slow wave sleep. This answers the question of why EMDR, unlike every other psychological treatment, results in immediate relief from traumatic memories such as those that cause PTSD. As far as we know, this is the only psychological treatment in which the basic underlying cause of the therapeutic effect is known." A third member of the research team is Dr. John Drozd, psychologist and EEG expert. The team made EEG recordings of patients undergoing EMDR treatment, and analyzed the results using powerful programs such as FFT, fast Fourier transforms, to make sense out of the huge data sets resulting from the EEG studies.

The efficacy of EMDR in treatment of trauma-based disorders has been known for some 20 years, having been discovered in the late nineteen eighties by Dr. Francine Shapiro. There are currently several thousand EMDR therapists throughout the world, although not nearly enough to cope with the present case load, especially when considering the numerous members of the armed forces that have PTSD. The research by Harper and R. Kalhorn is being done in part to show other potential therapists that EMDR is a respectable therapy with a proven scientific basis. It is hoped that this will induce many more psychologists to take the brief EMDR training session required for practice of the therapy. Dr. R. Kalhorn stated: "I think it is very important to explain to all sufferers of PTSD that this is a medical illness, being caused by over-potentiation of synapses recording the emotions of traumatic memories. The treatment is a medical intervention that triggers a natural healing mechanism of the brain. The EMDR therapist applies the editing system directly to a selected traumatic memory."

Results of the Harper - R. Kalhorn studies will be disclosed at the American Psychological Association annual meeting in Boston in August and a complete account of the research will be published later this year.