EMDR Therapy Quarterly

Research Priorities

We are pleased to announce the top research priorities, as voted for by the EMDR UK association members:

• EMDR to treat trauma in non-PTSD mental health conditions
• Cost effectiveness of EMDR compared to CBT for any condition but especially PTSD
• EMDR to treat trauma in neurodivergent populations
• EMDR for anxiety disorders
• RCTs of EMDR for long term or treatment resistant depression
• Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of EMDR for combat/military related PTSD
• EMDR for personality disorder (complex trauma/ cPTSD)
• RCTs of EMDR for PTSD in children and adolescents
• EMDR to treat perinatal mental health conditions
• Mechanisms of change in EMDR (e.g. memory reconsolidation, attachment-informed, and relational–neurobiological processes

The prioritisation exercise was undertaken by the Scientific and Research Committee in consultation with the membership, via an online poll which was launched at the 2026 annual conference in Bristol.  Over 300 responses were received.  The priorities will inform our new research strategy for 2026 and beyond. The EMDR UK Association is keen to support all rigorous and ethically sound research even if it is not on the priorities list. Researchers, academics, and clinicians can contact the scientific and research committee on researchofficer@emdrassociation.org.uk with questions, queries, or access to populations with EMDR experiences.  

Annual Conference

We are delighted to see that research presented as a poster at the 2026 conference is now a publication in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology.  Dr Leeanne Nicholls at the School of Psychology, University of Southampton, and colleagues conducted a Delphi study to establish practitioner consensus on adaptations to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of EMDR for trauma in individuals with bipolar disorder.  You can read the full article here.

Looking ahead to 2027, the annual conference will take place in London on the 12^th and 13^th March, further details here: https://emdrassociation.org.uk/event/emdr-uk-annual-hybrid-conference-agm-2027/ We will shortly be opening an abstracts call for posters and research presentations so please watch this space.  If you wish to express your interest in submitting and to be alerted when the call opens, please email Anthea Sutton, Research and Academic Liaison, at a.sutton@emdrassociation.org.uk

New Research

The EMDR Publications Database has been updated in July 2026, you can read all about the latest research here [link].  If you have not done so already, you can access the database with your EMDR UK membership, see the “Member Resources” section when you login to the members area of the EMDR UK website.  If you have any queries about accessing or finding your way around the database, please email: emdrdatabase@sheffield.ac.uk

Evidence Briefing on EMDR with veterans and military personnel

Using the EMDR Publications Database, we have collated the current evidence base on EMDR with veterans and military personnel; you can read it in this issue of ETQ here [link].

Committee Membership

And finally, we are pleased to welcome new members Dr Ashia Begum and Dr Mani Mehdikhani to the Scientific and Research Committee. We also say farewell to Dr Oenone Dudley who has stepped down from the SRC.  Oenone joined the committee in 2024, and we would like to thank her for her time and input over the last two years.