While EMDR was originally developed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emerging research suggests it’s also an effective therapy for OCD.

EMDR is a form of therapy that typically involves doing back-and-forth eye movements as a way to unravel traumatic memories in the brain, making them less painful to recall later on.

While therapists typically use EMDR to treat PTSD, they’ll also sometimes use it to treat conditions including anxiety, depression, or OCD. Here’s what to know about how EMDR may treat the obsessions and compulsions associated with OCD in particular.

Psychologist Francine Shapiro developed EMDR in the late 1980s as a way to help patients find relief from distressing, painful memories associated with PTSD.

The treatment is based on the idea that when inadequately processed, traumatic memories can become problematic in the brain and cause various psychological issues like irritability, tension, and difficulty concentrating. To encourage a gentle processing of these memories, EMDR involves bilateral movement of the eyes while recalling them under the supervision of a professional.

Though experts still aren’t sure exactly why EMDR works, there’s a wealth of research showing its effectiveness in treating PTSD in particular. After treatment, patients typically experience a diminished physiological and emotional response to triggers like loud noises, bright lights, or certain words.

The thinking is that when moving the eyes back and forth, the brain becomes partly preoccupied with the task at hand, which diminishes the unwanted physiological and emotional response to the trigger. It may essentially rewire neural pathways associated with PTSD symptoms.

By the same measure, EMDR may help restructure neurons associated with OCD symptoms and triggers.

There’s less research on the link between EMDR and OCD in particular, but research strongly suggests that the therapy is effective for treating symptoms associated with the condition.

Currently, healthcare professionals most often treat OCD with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure response prevention (ERP) therapy, which helps individuals confront and manage triggers in a safe environment.

Similarly, experts think EMDR may help reduce the intensity and frequency of intrusive, obsessive thoughts associated with the condition. It also seems to improve depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with OCD. Since depression and anxiety are also strongly associated with PTSD, it makes sense that those with OCD may likewise benefit.

Let’s take a look at what the current research says:

  • In a 2021 review of six case studies, researchers found EMDR to be a promising option for treating OCD. Additionally, they concluded that EMDR is more beneficial in treating OCD symptoms than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are the current first-line medication for the condition.
  • In a small 2017 study of 55 participants, researchers found that those who underwent EMDR for 6 months benefitted as much as those who underwent CBT for the same length of time. Of the 62% of subjects who completed treatment, about half experienced clinically significant improvement in symptoms. Since CBT is currently the first-line treatment for OCD, EMDR may potentially be just as effective.
  • In a very small 2019 study of just eight people with OCD whose symptoms failed to improve after CBT, researchers found that EMDR was effective at reducing their symptoms. So, EMDR may potentially be effective at reducing symptoms in individuals who don’t experience relief from first-line treatment.
  • In a small 2020 study of 60 people with OCD who had also experienced traumatic events, researchers found that participants who underwent both ERP and EMDR therapy benefitted more than those who just underwent ERP alone.

So, while more research is needed, so far, EMDR seems like a promising treatment for OCD. Since it’s also a noninvasive, low risk practice, it may be worth a try.

Overall, the main risk associated with EMDR is feeling uncomfortable or stressed when recalling your obsessive thoughts. Others who undergo EMDR in general report side effects like:

  • an initial increase in discomfort or distress
  • vivid dreams
  • heightened emotions
  • headaches or dizziness

This stress and discomfort should diminish with further treatment. However, it’s important to undergo this process with the guidance of a therapist to avoid the risk of further trauma.

In the United States, you can look up a qualified therapist in your area at EMDR Institute. Outside the United States, you may visit the EMDR International Association.

Once you’ve narrowed your search down to a few professionals, it’s a good idea to ask if they have experience using EMDR to treat OCD in particular. Since EMDR is typically used to treat PTSD, it’s ideal to find a professional with the knowledge, background, and expertise to treat your specific symptoms.

You can also narrow your search for therapists who use EMDR or who treat OCD on many search engines. Learn more about online or low cost and free options. If you are currently seeing a therapist for OCD, you can also ask them if they have experience with EMDR or would be open to working with an EMDR specialist.

Emerging research suggests EMDR to be an effective option for treating OCD, offering comparable benefits to proven therapies like CBT and ERP and potentially showing greater effectiveness than SSRIs.

If you have OCD, support is available. Learn more about understanding your triggers and compulsions, and remember that there are methods proven to help you attain the greater peace of mind and quality of life you deserve. There are many different therapies that have been proven to reduce OCD symptoms.