Neurophysiologische Korrelate der EMDR-Stimulation

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Die posttraumatische Belastungsstörung geht mit starken Beeinträchtigungen und erheblichem Leid für die Betroffenen sowie ökonomischen Folgen für das Individuum und die Gesellschaft einher. Zu den wirksamsten erforschten Behandlungsmethoden zählen die traumafokussierte kognitive Verhaltenstherapie und die Eye-Movement-Desensitization-and-Reprocessing(EMDR)-Technik. Trotz vieler Wirksamkeitsstudien gibt es wenige wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zu den zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen der alternierenden bilateralen Stimulation (ABS), auf denen die EMDR-Methode basiert. Die folgende Arbeit bietet eine Übersicht der Studien, welche die Effekte von EMDR auf neuroanatomische Strukturen, funktionelle Aktivität und Konnektivität, EEG-Aufzeichnungen, Ruhemessungen sowie auf physiologische Marker wie Hautleitfähigkeit und EKG untersuchten. Die Ergebnisse aus Prä-post-Messungen unterstützen die allgemeinen neurokognitiven Annahmen einer Top-down-Zunahme als positiven Wirkmechanismus von EMDR. Die spezifischen Wirkmechanismen der ABS auf neuronaler Ebene bleiben jedoch unklar und weitere Untersuchungen mit größeren Stichproben von PTBS-Patienten sind notwendig, um ein besseres Verständnis der ABS zu erlangen.

ABSTRACT

Posttraumatic stress disorder is associated with significant disabilities and present a considerable burden with economic consequences for affected patients and society. Among the most effective treatments are trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Despite many efficacy studies, research on the mechanisms of the alternating bilateral stimulation (ABS) that underlies the EMDR method remains scarce. The following work presents an overview of previous studies examining the effects of EMDR on neuroanatomical structure, functional activity and connectivity, EEG recordings, resting-state measurements as well as physiological markers such as skin conductance response and ECG. Results from pre-post assessments support the general neurocognitive assumptions of a top-down increase as positive mechanism of action for EMDR. However, the specific mechanisms of action of ABS at the neural level remain unclear and further investigations with larger samples of PTSD patients are necessary to gain a better understanding of ABS.

Schlüsselwörter

EMDR - PTBS - Neurophysiologie - fMRT - Hautleitfähigkeit - EEG - EKG

Key words

EMDR - PTSD - Neurophysiology - fMRI - skin conductance - EEG - ECG

Publication History

Article published online:
27 August 2024

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