title: Hemodynamic responses of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective psychological intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma-related recall (Recall) with eye movements (EMs) is thought to reduce distress. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this process remain unknown. Thirteen patients with PTSD received EMDR treatment over the course of 2-10 weeks. We assessed the change in hemoglobin concentration in the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) during Recall with and without EM using multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Clinical diagnosis and improvement were evaluated using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Recall with EM was associated with a significant decrease in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration ([oxy-Hb]) in the lateral PFC as compared with Recall without EM. Longitudinally, [oxy-Hb] during Recall significantly decreased and the amount of decrease was significantly correlated with clinical improvement when the post-treatment data was compared with that of the pre-treatment. Our results suggest that performing EM during Recall reduces the over-activity of the lateral PFC, which may be part of the biological basis for the efficacy of EMDR in PTSD. NIRS may be a useful tool for objective assessment of psychological intervention in PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohtani
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohta ni
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Kiyoto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: Tadafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Nobumasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D057169:Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000098:blood supply*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*