Intrusive memories after traumatic events: Insights into mechanisms and treatment 

Iris ENGELHARD - Professor of Clinical Psychology, Dept. of Clinical Psychology | Utrecht University

When: October 6th 11am

Where: Salle des Voûtes - Bât 9 Campus Marseille St Charles

Abstract: "Distressing and intrusive memories of a traumatic event are central in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While current treatments for PTSD demonstrate efficacy, considerable room for improvement remains. Advancing knowledge of the mechanisms driving therapeutic change is critical for enhancing treatment efficacy and informing future intervention development. Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is effective for PTSD. Unique in EMDR is that during memory retrieval, eye movement is induced. A long-standing controversy has been whether (and how) eye movement in EMDR possess added benefit to the imaginal exposure component. This keynote will discuss recent insights from experimental research about the way traumatic memories can drive anxiety and other trauma-related symptoms, as well as how EMDR therapy can mitigate traumatic memories."