Is EMDR suitable for people with eating difficulties?

[howsey]

Hi is there any research out there to say that EMDR works with people with eating difficulies? Ie: bulimia, binge eating, anorexia etc? if so what BMI would it be between? would it have to be above say BMI of 17? or does it not matter.

Lastly how do you work around the this? do you look at the triggers around the first time they started this difficulty or the reason behind whyit first started?

Please help anyone as I am really interested in this subject.

 

[Retired]

Welcome to Psychlinks, howsey!

I don't know the answer to your question, but I'm sure others who know will post a response shortly.

Thanks for joining Psychlinks and we hope you enjoy the Forum.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Hi is there any research out there to say that EMDR works with people with eating difficulties? i.e.,: bulimia, binge eating, anorexia etc?

EMDR is a treatment devised for PTSD. I don't think it would be used to treat an eating disorder per se unless the eating disorder were associated with PTSD.

if so what BMI would it be between? would it have to be above say BMI of 17? or does it not matter.

BMI is irrelevant for a diagnosis of an eating disorder and is not one of the criteria for a diagnosis of anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders.

Lastly how do you work around the this? do you look at the triggers around the first time they started this difficulty or the reason behind why it first started?

That probably would depend on the therapist, the type of eating disorder, and the stage of therapy. For example, if the ED is at a point where health or life is threatened, the first focus would be on getting the individual to a healthy weight and to healthier eating habits. If the onset of the ED was associated with trauma, this would have to be addressed at some point but perhaps after the patient is stabilized physically.

On the other hand, if the patient's condition were not a serious imminent threat to life or physical health and the ED was trauma-related, it might be more effective to address the trauma issues first or concomitantly.

Like treatment for other mental health issues, it is likely to be most effective if tailored to individual circumstances and symptoms..

 

[howsey]

Feeling out of control with things that have happened in your life can be traumatic enough without having PTSD don't you think? People who I know who have a ED state that this is one control they do have in their lives.

So would it be worth looking at that word 'control' or work on what has happened outside their control?

I'm not sure if I'm making sense here as EMDR is very new to me

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Yes, ED is about control and it may be associated with many thing, including but not limited to OCD, GAD, and BDD.

My point is that EMDR is used to treat PTSD and there is some debate about whether it even works very well there. It is neither proposed nor accepted as a treatment for other disorders or mental health conditions.

 

[Marcel]

Hi howsey - have other forms of therapy already been tried (and failed) to deal with the eating disorder? Is that why you are investigating if EMDR could help a person with eating difficulties?

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Ah, good question. I hadn't thought of that.

 

[howsey]

Hi Marcel & David,
This particular lady in question has had long term psychotherapy for years however she does not feel that she has gained anything from this. She has also had CBT with little affect either.
In England where I live, there is a great hole for people with ED. There are few places people can go. I just wondered if there was any research out there about ED & EMDR. I know that there is an ED protocol for EMDR. I just can't find anything about it!!

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Apparently, EMDR is being used for a lot of things other than trauma, which is worrisome to me.

See:

http://forum.psychlinks.ca/emdr/13428-emdr-taking-a-closer-look.html

eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in e... [Int J Eat Disord. 1998] - PubMed result

EMDR: Taking a Closer Look: Scientific American

Amazon.com: EMDR Solutions II: For Depression, Eating Disorders, Performance, and More (Norton Professional Books) (9780393705881): Robin Shapiro, Celia Grand: Books

Using EMDR to Address Eating Disorders

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

EMDR

A Randomized Experimental Test of the Efficacy of EMDR Treatment on Negative Body Image in Eating Disorder Inpatients - Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention

EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) - Psychotherapy Treatment And Psychotherapist Information

Psychotherapy Brown Bag: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): What is it and does it work?

Psychotherapy Brown Bag: EMDR: Do bi-lateral eye movements actually add anything to treatment?

​

 

[howsey]

Thank you so much David for this reading. I do appreciate it.