title: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing as Treatment for Chronic Pain Syndromes: A Literature Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic pain is public health problem in the United States, costing upwards of $560 to $635 billion annually. Guidelines consistently recommend psychological treatment for chronic pain. Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy may provide an alternate approach to treating chronic pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Review of literature to evaluate the effectiveness of EMDR in the treatment of chronic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search of seven databases was conducted to find relevant studies addressing the use of EMDR for chronic pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most studies reported improvement in pain and psychological indices with EMDR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because most literature reported case studies, the results have limited generalizability. However, for clients who suffer from chronic pain, EMDR is a reasonable treatment alternative.
authors.affiliation: 1 Angela J. Tefft, DNP, ARNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, Kitsap Mental Health Services, Bremerton, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Angela J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Tefft
authors.affiliation: 2 Irma O. Jordan, DNP, APRN, FNP/PMHNP-BC, FAANP, Frontier Nursing University, Arlington, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Irma O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Jordan
keywords: EMDR; chronic pain; eye movement desensitization reprocessing; medically unexplained symptoms; somatization