Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in preterm children with selective mutism.

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.