EMDR-terapia autismikirjon henkilöiden traumaoireiden hoidossa – Systemaattinen kirjallisuuskatsaus

Abstract

People with autism spectrum disorder tend to have psychiatric comorbidity, which occasionally may stem from their traumatic life experiences. Post-traumatic stress (PTSD) symptoms may be diagnostically overshadowed by autistic features and symptoms, which can actually increase after trauma. Trauma-related symptoms in people with autism may in fact be underdiagnosed. In addition to better recognize PTSD symptoms in people with autism, it is important to study suitable methods and practices how to best treat them.

In treatment of PTSD, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is used, and there are also a few intervention studies with autistic patients. The aim of this systematic review was to survey what kind of studies have been conducted so far and to evaluate if EMDR therapy could be suitable in treating people with autism. Seven research articles were included, all but one being case studies and none containing control groups. All articles reported positive intervention results. However, there are several shortages due to which the results are difficult to generalize. 

Based on this review, in principle EMDR therapy might be beneficial in treating people with autism and their PTSD symptoms. There are several advantages in EMDR therapy that could fit well with people with autistic features. Nonetheless, for now the evidence is still lacking to confirm that EMDR therapy is effective with people with autism. More research on this topic is definitively called for hereafter. In the future, it is important to create trauma-informed services that not only support people with autism and their loved ones but also treatments for PTSD symptoms that can be well integrated to other care and rehabilitation services for people with autism from childhood to adulthood. Therefore it is crucial that also neuropsychologists recognize and bear in mind the possible need to treat trauma-related symptoms with people with autism.