Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology

Psychosocial and other nonbiological therapies and interventions Efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) technique in a patient with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and secondary enuresis diurna: a case report

Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology 2013; 23: Supplement S147-S147
Read: 509 Published: 20 March 2021

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can occur after the traumatic life events, and is characterized by hyperarousal, avoidance and emotional numbing, re-experiencing symptoms. Continuous elevated levels of anxiety in patients with PTSD rarely may result with secondary diurnal enuresis (ED). We aimed to present a patient, who was diagnosed with acute PTSD and ED and showed a significant and rapid response by eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Our case is a forty-one years old, married, female patient. She experienced an earthquake about 1.5 years ago. Her symptoms were insomnia, feeling like re-experiencing the earthquake, constant crying and enuresis 5-6 times a day (day and night). The physical examination and laboratory tests did not show any related pathology. Paroxetine 30 mg / day was initiated, but her complaints were persistent during the control examinations. In the psychometric evaluation, her IES-R, BDI, BAI scores were 58, 39, 31, respectively. The patient underwent three sessions of EMDR. After the therapy IES-R, BDI, BAI scores were found as 22, 13 and 15, respectively. These results and clinical examination provided evidence for a significant improvement in PTSD symptoms. In addition the first and the third month follow upsrevealed complete resolution of ED, after treatment with EMDR. ED can be comorbid with PTSD and it can be a very worrying symptom. Organic causes of enuresis should be excluded. PTSD is sometimes resistant condition and different treatment approaches should be applied. Our case displayed the effectiveness of EMDR on both PTSD and ED.

EISSN 2475-0581