Addressing Mental Health Need After COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Remote EMDR Therapy Studies as an Emerging Option

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published in Frontiers in Psychology and is available as an open-access article. The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a substantial rise in mental health challenges, prompting a need for accessible and effective therapeutic interventions. This review summarizes the evidence on remote Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy delivered in response to the increased need. A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Databases including PsychINFO, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science were searched to identify studies assessing the efficacy of EMDR therapy administered online. Sixteen articles meeting the inclusion criteria were selected, involving 1,231 participants across various age groups. Studies covered remote individual and group EMDR sessions and self-administered computerized protocols. Findings indicate promising outcomes in reducing PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and depression. The analysis of the selected studies demonstrates the feasibility and potential efficacy of online EMDR as an accessible therapeutic option for addressing mental health difficulties, particularly during times of limited in-person interaction. However, the studies revealed limitations such as small sample sizes, absence of control groups, and reliance on self-reported measures. This course on remote EMDR therapy is designed for clinical social workers, psychologists, professional counselors, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their expertise with remote EMDR therapy. The course material includes a literature review of interventions and research. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading peer reviewed research-based articles for continuing education is that they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: Kaptan, Kaya, Akan Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding remote EMDR therapy. Specifically, a professional will: Recognizes uses for telehealth services after COVID 19. Describe strategies for implementing EMDR therapy into a remote format. Identify outcomes associated with remote EMDR therapy. Citation: Kaptan, S. K., Kaya, Z. M., & Akan, A. (2024). Addressing mental health need after COVID-19: a systematic review of remote EMDR therapy studies as an emerging option. Frontiers in psychiatry, 14, 1336569. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1336569