EMDR is well-established for trauma, and research into eating disorders and cravings is growing. The honest picture: promising, especially where difficult experiences sit beneath eating patterns — but still early. We show you the studies so you can decide for yourself.
Systematic review2024
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for the treatment of eating disorders: A systematic review of the literature
Hatoum, A. H. & Burton, A. L. · Mental Health Science, 2(4)
Reviewed eight peer-reviewed studies of EMDR for eating disorders, symptoms and body image. Case studies showed promising outcomes and a quasi-experimental study found benefits as an add-on for anorexia nervosa, though one RCT found no added benefit over standard treatment. Concludes evidence is limited but promising, and more research is needed.
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing as add-on treatment to enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy for patients with anorexia nervosa reporting childhood maltreatment
Rossi, E., Cassioli, E., Cecci, L., et al. · European Eating Disorders Review
Compared 75 patients with anorexia nervosa and childhood maltreatment treated with CBT-E alone versus CBT-E plus EMDR. Adding EMDR showed benefits for this trauma-affected group, supporting EMDR as a useful treatment adjunct.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and eating disorders: A systematic review
Balbo, M., Zaccagnino, M., Cussino, M. & Civilotti, C. · Clinical Neuropsychiatry
Systematically reviewed EMDR for eating disorders across EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL. Found noteworthy clinical suggestions of benefit, particularly where trauma underlies the eating disorder, but noted methodological limits and called for stronger trials.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment in the medical setting: a systematic review
Driessen, H. P. A., Busschbach, J. J. V., Hoogendijk, W. J. G. & Kranenburg, L. W. · European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 15(1)
Reviewed EMDR across medical settings, finding growing evidence for its benefits beyond PTSD — relevant context for using EMDR techniques with the physical and emotional sides of eating.