Treatment of PTSD and SUD for the incarcerated population with EMDR: A pilot study

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences predict recidivism. In incarcerated individuals, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates are higher. A study with 122 inmates with PTSD and substance use disorder explored eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)’s effectiveness. EMDR worked across gender and race, reducing PCL-C scores posttreatment and at 2 and 4 weeks. IER-R scores lowered from weeks 1 to 9. EMDR boosted affect, reasoning, and attitudes posttreatment.