Effectiveness of the On-the-Spot-EMDR Method for the Treatment of Behavioral Symptoms in Patients With Severe Dementia

Abstract

Although the main symptoms of dementia consist of neuropsychological impairment, particularly long-term memory, dementia often involves severe behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). There are quite a few patients whose BPSD are untreatable with medication. Such BPSD often have some characteristics similar to traumatic symptoms and appear related to the recollection of disturbing past traumatic events. Because the standard protocol of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is not directly applicable to patients with dementia, we developed a modified protocol, the on-the-spot-EMDR method. This study describes the protocol and evaluates its application to three patients with moderate to severe dementia. Clear therapeutic effects were evident, and all three individuals showed pronounced improvement in BPSD, with results maintained at 6-month follow-up. The relevance of these findings is discussed and suggestions made for future research.