Cited by 12Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ResearchPsychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsPosttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

The effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing on fibromyalgia: A multiple-baseline experimental case study across ten participants

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Borst, Michiel, Moeyaert, Mariola, van Rood, Yanda·2024·Neuropsychological Rehabilitation

Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and stiffness in muscles and joints. Traumatic life experiences and post-traumatic stress symptoms play a role in its development and persistence. Although previous research suggests that pain and FM symptoms decrease after eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, its effectiveness has not been investigated in a controlled manner. The present study investigated the effectiveness of a six-session, 90-minute EMDR therapy using a multiple baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) across ten adult females with FM. The SCED involved a baseline, intervention, one- and three-month follow-up phase. The primary outcome was pain. Secondary outcomes included post-traumatic stress symptoms, other FM symptoms (fatigue, stiffness in muscles and joints), and the impact of FM on daily activities and sleep. Data were statistically analyzed by primarily testing means across phases on an individual and group level. Post-traumatic stress symptoms improved significantly in seven participants. Pain severity decreased significantly in six participants, with three of them maintaining significant improvement three months later. One participant showed clinically relevant change one month later. Furthermore, improvements were observed in secondary outcome measures. The findings support the efficacy of EMDR in reducing FM symptoms.

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Crossref · 10.1080/09602011.2024.2314883

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  • Fibromyalgia is a disabling chronic pain syndrome characterized by multiple symptoms, including medically unexplained widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive, mood and sleep disorders.

    “Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disabling chronic pain syndrome characterized by multiple symptoms, including medically unexplained widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive, mood and sleep disorders.1–11”

    From A Review of Movement and Functional Impairments in Fibromyalgia: Implications for Targeted Treatment (2025) · cites this paper as [4]

    The Introduction (page not provided) calls fibromyalgia a disabling chronic pain syndrome and describes multi-site pain, fatigue, sleeping problems, and common comorbid mood disorders. It does not describe the pain as medically unexplained or identify cognitive disorders among its symptoms. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Providing patients with EMDR, CBT, biofeedback or rTMS may enable them to gain control over physical processes, allowing for improved functional task performance and increased autonomy in their rehabilitation.

    “Providing patients with EMDR,4 CBT,9,12,17 biofeedback24 or rTMS26,33 may enable them to gain control over physical processes, allowing for improved functional task performance and increased autonomy in their rehabilitation.24”

    From A Review of Movement and Functional Impairments in Fibromyalgia: Implications for Targeted Treatment (2025) · cites this paper as [4]

    The Results (§3.11) report that some participants with fibromyalgia perceived improved physical functioning, coping with pain, and work-related activities after EMDR. That partly supports the proposed functional benefit, but the paper does not establish that EMDR gave patients control over physical processes or increased their autonomy in rehabilitation. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • FM patients have symptoms of central sensitization, characterized by hypersensitivity to bright light, touch, noise, temperature, and mechanical pressure.

    “as have symptoms of central sensitization, characterized by hypersensitivity to bright light, touch, noise, temperature, and mechanical pressure.4,7,16”
  • Stiffness in muscles and joints and self-reported fatigue have been shown to significantly decrease in patients with FM following a series of EMDR sessions.

    “Stiffness in muscles and joints and self-reported fatigue have been shown to significantly decrease in patients with FM following a series of EMDR sessions.4”

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Kavakçı, Ö, Kaptanoğlu, E., Kuğu, N., & Doğan, O. eds. (2010). Emdr: A New choice of treatment in fibromyalgia? A review and report of a case presentation. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 13 (3), 143-151.
  2. Kazdin, A. E. (2011). Single-case research designs: Methodes for clinical and applied settings (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
  3. Piotrowski, C. (2019). Fibromyalgia, low back pain, osteoarthritis, myofascial pain, and complex regional pain syndrome: Predominant assessment measures in research. Journal of Projective Psychology & Mental Health, 26(1), 23-29.
  4. corpsy0337 · DOI

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Authors
Borst, M., Moeyaert, M., & van Rood, Y.
Affiliations
  • GGZ Noord-Holland-Noord (NL)
  • University at Albany, State University of New York (US)
  • Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center of Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands
Venue
Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
Published
2024-02-22
Volume
34
Issue
10
Pages
1422-1454
ISSN
  • 0960-2011 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-0694
OpenAlex
W4392047964
Cited by
12
References
69
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3
FWCI
3.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuropsychological Rehabilitation (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
Keywords
fibromyalgia, EMDR, posttraumatic stress symptoms, chronic pain, pain intensity, fatigue, sleep, daily functioning
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Fibromyalgia, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Middle Aged, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Treatment Outcome, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing

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