Research and information

Francine Shapiro discovered the therapeutic potential of saccadic eye  movements on distressing thoughts1 , and the first study relating its successful effects goes back to  1989, in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  

During a therapeutic session,  patients with PTSD had to perform a series of eye movement alternations, sequentially and at  different times. The symptoms subsided. The novel saccadic eye movement technique was  operationalized as “Eye movement Desensitization” and is now known as “Eye Movement  Desensitization and Reprocessing” or EMDR. 

Interestingly, the stimulation protocol has evolved considerably, and the Bilateral Stimulation  (BLS) used in the EMDR treatment protocol is no longer limited to eye movements, but can be a  sensorial (e.g., finger tapping) or an auditory stimulation (e.g., sound) as well. The EMDR  technique is articulated around several clinically relevant practices and procedures, such as  relaxation techniques, the installation and bolstering of inner resources, and managing chronic pain, migraines, fibromyalgia, phantom pain, etc.