Investigation of the effect of EMDR therapy on psychosomatic symptoms and early malaptive schemas: An analysis of 5 cases

Year 2025, EARLY ONLINE, 1 - 11

Kahraman Güler , Elif Fulya Baysal

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1723165

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the effects of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy on psychosomatic symptoms and early maladaptive schemas.

Methods: This study used a single-group pretest-posttest multiple case design, conducted without a control group. Five voluntary participants aged 18 and over were selected via purposive sampling. Data were collected through a Demographic Information Form, the Young Schema Questionnaire, and the Somatization Scale(33 items, derived from the MMPI).

Results: All participants showed decreases in early maladaptive schemas and psychosomatic symptoms after EMDR therapy, indicating its effectiveness in reducing both cognitive and somatic distress.

Conclusions: EMDR therapy appears effective in alleviating psychosomatic symptoms and maladaptive schemas. These findings support its clinical use and highlight the need for further research with larger samples.

Keywords

EMDR , psychosomatic symptom , early maladaptive schemas , psychosomatization

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the İstanbul Aydın University Social and Human Sciences Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2023/10; date: 21.12.2023). All procedures were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments. All participants provided written informed consent prior to participation. Participants were debriefed at the end of the sessions.

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