Alterning Bilateral Stimulation

EMDR is a psychotherapeutic approach recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and, more generally, psychological distress. In all these disorders, intrusions are one of the symptoms leading to intense emotional distress. EMDR therapy, by making intrusions less emotional and less present in the mind (i.e. less vivid), would reduce psychological distress. This symptomatological reduction would be made possible by the therapist's application of alternating bilateral visual (rapid eye movements following a point from left to right), auditory (tones emitted alternately in the right ear and then in the left ear) and/or tactile (tapping with fingers on the left and right shoulders alternately) stimulations administered while the patient concentrates on his or her intrusive thoughts. Accordingly, the aim of this research is to investigate the efficacy of self-administration of Alternating Bilateral Stimulations (ABS), on the emotional intensity (emotionality) associated with negative intrusive thoughts (or intrusions).