End-point nystagmus and EMDR

Abstract

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy that helps people to heal from trauma or other disturbing life experiences. In this article, the appearance of nystagmus in the eye during the application of the EMDR method was discussed while treating a 16-year-old adolescent girl who presented with a complaint of not eating meat following a traumatic event. Although, eye movements are used in EMDR, nystagmus can impede the patient’s ability to maintain eye movements. After excluding additional pathologies related to the eye, alternative bilateral stimulations can be used in EMDR.