Definition
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a first-choice psychological treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the general population (World Health Organization 2013; ISTSS 2019). Although there is growing evidence that the scope of EMDR therapy is broader than treatment of full blown PTSD, little is known about the feasibility and potential effectiveness of EMDR in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who suffer from the consequences of exposure to adverse events and trauma. There are indications that these consequences often are overlooked and misinterpreted as autistic features and therefore remain untreated. This entry provides an overview of the current knowledge about the feasibility and effectiveness of EMDR therapy in individuals with ASD and trauma-related symptoms and its clinical and scientific implications.
EMDR therapy is a protocolized treatment, aimed to resolve symptoms resulting from disturbing and...
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References and Reading
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Lobregt-van Buuren, E., Mevissen, L., De Jongh, A. (2020). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy in Children and Adults with Autism. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102388-1
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