# EMDR Therapy and Its Effects on Childhood Trauma - URL: https://alisanburak.com/en/emdr-terapisi-cocukluk-tramvalari - Language: en - Last updated: 2026-08-15 - Page title: EMDR Therapy and Its Effects on Childhood Trauma | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alişan Burak Yaşar > What Is EMDR Therapy? EMDR therapy, short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a powerful psychotherapy approach. With this therapy, many This page was translated automatically from Turkish. [Read the original](https://alisanburak.com/emdr-terapisi-cocukluk-tramvalari) [← Back to blog](https://alisanburak.com/en/blog) # EMDR Therapy and Its Effects on Childhood Trauma January 1, 2021Writings and Talks [Görsel: EMDR Therapy and Its Effects on Childhood Trauma] ## What Is EMDR Therapy? EMDR therapy, short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a powerful psychotherapy approach. With this therapy, many individuals of all ages with various psychological conditions have been successfully treated. EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements and gentle tapping, to facilitate the processing of traumatic experiences. Focusing attention bilaterally can reduce the distress and vividness associated with a traumatic memory. EMDR therapy does not merely eliminate the symptoms of a psychological condition. It also contributes to personal growth by fostering a new perspective, positive emotions, beliefs, and thoughts. [Görsel: EMDR therapy, short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a powerful psychotherapy approach.] A study on the effectiveness of Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing ([EMDR](https://www.emdr-tr.org/)) therapies in treating childhood trauma was published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The study followed the eight-phase EMDR therapy protocol developed by Shapiro. The only deviation from the original EMDR therapy protocol was to restrict strategies for overcoming blocks or imagery rescripting to prevent contamination between the treatments. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed in response to the lack of studies directly comparing ImRs and EMDR therapy techniques for treating PTSD related to childhood trauma. ## **Study Background** Research into treatments that effectively treat adults with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from childhood experiences (Ch-PTSD) and are well tolerated by patients is essential to improving outcomes for this population. ## **Study Objectives** The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two different trauma-focused treatments for PTSD related to childhood trauma: Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing ([EMDR](https://www.emdr-tr.org/emdr-nedir/)). ## **Study Methods** We conducted an international, multicenter, randomized clinical trial involving adults with PTSD related to childhood trauma who had experienced trauma before the age of 16. Participants were randomized at the pretreatment assessment using block randomization (two, four, and six participants per block, with the number of blocks randomized). Randomization was performed with control for gender distribution at each study site. Participants were randomized to a treatment condition and assessed at multiple time points by blinded assessors. Participants received twelve 90-minute sessions of ImRs or EMDR, delivered twice weekly. ## **Study Findings** A total of 155 participants were included in the post-treatment analysis. Dropout rates were low, at 7.7%. A generalized linear mixed model for repeated measures showed that observed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms decreased significantly at the 8-week post-treatment assessment for both ImRs (d = 1.72) and EMDR therapy (d = 1.73). Similar results were found for secondary outcome measures and self-report measures of PTSD symptoms. No significant differences between the two treatments were found on any standardized test at post-treatment or follow-up assessments. ## **Study Conclusions** ImRs and [EMDR](https://alisanburak.com/pandemi-doneminde-emdr/) therapy were found to be effective in treating PTSD symptoms resulting from childhood trauma and in reducing other symptoms, such as depression, dissociation, and trauma-related cognitions. Low dropout rates indicated that the treatments were well tolerated by participants. The results of this study provide evidence supporting the use of trauma-focused treatments for PTSD related to childhood trauma. 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