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Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in preterm children with selective mutism
Coby Mesman1, Iris Van Der Horst1, Fien Spijker-Verkerk2
1Paediatrics, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Ziekenhuis, Tilburg, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands.
Insights
Neonatal intensive care can cause early-life stress in premature infants, potentially leading to trauma. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy effectively improved speech, social skills, and communication in two young girls with selective mutism following premature birth.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Child Psychology
- Trauma Therapy
Background:
- Very preterm birth and neonatal intensive care are significant stressors for infants.
- Early life stress can lead to psychological and behavioral issues, including trauma.
- Selective Mutism (SM) is a complex childhood anxiety disorder affecting speech.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in treating selective mutism (SM) in ex-premature infants.
- To explore the hypothesis that postnatal trauma contributes to SM development in this population.
- To highlight a novel therapeutic approach for SM in a vulnerable infant group.
Main Methods:
- Case report of two female infants born at very premature age (approx. 1000g birth weight).
- Infants received intensive neonatal intensive care.
- Treatment with EMDR therapy in early childhood for selective mutism.
Main Results:
- EMDR therapy led to long-lasting improvements in speech, social skills, and communication.
- Both patients showed significant positive outcomes following the intervention.
- This represents the first reported use of EMDR for SM in ex-premature infants.
Conclusions:
- EMDR therapy is a potentially effective treatment for selective mutism in ex-premature infants.
- Postnatal trauma may be a contributing factor to the development of SM in this population.
- Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger cohorts.
Abstract:
Very preterm birth and treatment in neonatal intensive care cause stress early in life of the infant and may subsequently lead to psychological and behavioural traumas. Previous studies show positive outcomes of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy on trauma in children in general. This case report describes two girls that were born at very premature age (with birth weights of approximately 1000 g). They required intensive treatment in the neonatal intensive care. In early childhood, they presented with selective mutism (SM). We treated them with EMDR therapy because we hypothesised that trauma from the postnatal period had caused post-traumatic stress disorder. The EMDR therapy resulted in a long-lasting improvement in speech, social skills and communication. This is the first case report of development of SM in ex-premature infants that were treated with EMDR therapy in early childhood.
