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Volume 24, Issue 154 (12-2025)
Journal of Psychological Science 2025, 24(154): 333-348 |
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Khalili Yazdi F, keshavarz afshar H, Salehi K, Jahanbakhshi Z. (2025). The Effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy on Insight in Trauma Survivors: A Systematic Narrative Review. Journal of Psychological Science. 24(154), 333-348. doi:10.61186/jps.24.154.19
URL: http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-3126-en.html
URL: http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-3126-en.html
Department of Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran , keshavarz1979@ut.ac.ir
Abstract: (116 Views)
Background: Traumatic experiences can lead to impaired insight by disrupting cognitive processing and reducing self-awareness. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has the potential to enhance insight through cognitive reprocessing and reducing the emotional burden of traumatic memories. Despite extensive evidence on the effectiveness of EMDR in alleviating clinical symptoms in traumatized individuals, its direct relationship with improving insight has been less explored.
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the impact of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy on psychological insight and self-awareness in trauma-affected individuals.
Methods: This research was conducted as a systematic narrative review. A literature search was performed in PubMed, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Scopus using keywords such as “EMDR”, “insight”, “self-awareness”, and “trauma”, limited to English articles published between 2017 and October 2023. Following the PRISMA framework, 42 articles were identified, and after screening, 7 studies (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods) were selected. Study quality was assessed using RoB2 and CASP tools, and data were analyzed using a narrative synthesis approach.
Results: The results showed that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy had a significant positive effect on psychological insight and self-awareness in affected individuals. The findings were organized into four main themes: improved emotional self-awareness, reconstruction of personal narratives, increased cognitive coherence, and demographic differences. Cultural factors influenced treatment response, but age and gender differences were not significant.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has a significant positive effect on psychological insight and self-awareness in trauma-affected individuals. These findings can be utilized in designing EMDR-based treatment programs for individuals with trauma. Additionally, these findings can assist psychotherapists in enhancing the effectiveness of interventions on the psychological insight of trauma-affected individuals by focusing on improving emotional self-awareness and reconstructing personal narratives.
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the impact of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy on psychological insight and self-awareness in trauma-affected individuals.
Methods: This research was conducted as a systematic narrative review. A literature search was performed in PubMed, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Scopus using keywords such as “EMDR”, “insight”, “self-awareness”, and “trauma”, limited to English articles published between 2017 and October 2023. Following the PRISMA framework, 42 articles were identified, and after screening, 7 studies (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods) were selected. Study quality was assessed using RoB2 and CASP tools, and data were analyzed using a narrative synthesis approach.
Results: The results showed that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy had a significant positive effect on psychological insight and self-awareness in affected individuals. The findings were organized into four main themes: improved emotional self-awareness, reconstruction of personal narratives, increased cognitive coherence, and demographic differences. Cultural factors influenced treatment response, but age and gender differences were not significant.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has a significant positive effect on psychological insight and self-awareness in trauma-affected individuals. These findings can be utilized in designing EMDR-based treatment programs for individuals with trauma. Additionally, these findings can assist psychotherapists in enhancing the effectiveness of interventions on the psychological insight of trauma-affected individuals by focusing on improving emotional self-awareness and reconstructing personal narratives.
Keywords: eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, psychological insight, self-awareness, trauma, PTSD.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/09/22 | Accepted: 2025/12/6 | Published: 2025/12/22
Received: 2025/09/22 | Accepted: 2025/12/6 | Published: 2025/12/22
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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)