THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EMDR APPROACH IN THE TREATMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

This study aimed to review how adverse childhood experiences can impact functionality and mental health in adulthood, focusing on scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in the treatment of trauma. This is a bibliographic research, with a qualitative and descriptive approach, developed through an integrative literature review. The search was conducted in the Virtual Health Library (BVS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) databases. The time frame included studies published between 2020 and 2025, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Initially, 33 studies were identified; after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 articles comprised the final sample. The analysis followed exploratory reading and synthesis of the evidence. The results indicate that childhood trauma is associated with emotional impairment, difficulty in the relational sphere, and greater vulnerability to the development of mental disorders. Evidence suggests that EMDR contributes to the reduction of symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression. However, it has limitations in cases of complex trauma and still requires more research to consolidate its effectiveness.