EMDR for Autistic Adults: What the Research Says

Autistic people are more likely than non-autistic people to go through traumatic experiences, and more likely to develop post-traumatic stress afterwards. Yet many autistic adults find it hard to access therapy that fits the way they think, communicate and process the world. EMDR is one approach researchers have begun to study for autistic people. Research suggests probable PTSD affects between 32% and 45% of autistic people, compared with around 4% of the general population (National Autistic Society, 2022). Part of the reason is that a wider range of experiences can be traumatic. In a study of 59 autistic adults who had been through a distressing event, more than 40% had symptoms suggesting probable PTSD, whether or not the event met the standard clinical definition of trauma (Rumball et al., 2020). The researchers concluded that PTSD diagnosis and treatment should not be withheld simply because the event seems unusual. Bullying, sensory events, loss and major changes can all leave a lasting impact. Lobregt-van Buuren et al. (2019) studied autistic adults with a history of distressing events. Participants received their usual treatment for 6 to 8 weeks, followed by up to eight EMDR sessions alongside it. Afterwards, there was a large reduction in post-traumatic stress symptoms and a significant reduction in general psychological distress, and these improvements held at follow-up. Leuning et al. (2023) worked with 21 autistic young people aged 12 to 19, who had ten weekly EMDR sessions focused on everyday stress. Clinicians’ ratings of overall severity improved by the end of treatment and stayed lower at follow-up. Perceived stress did not change during treatment but had fallen significantly three months later. Both studies were small and had no control group, so larger trials are needed. The National Autistic Society also notes that we do not yet know how effective PTSD treatments in general are for autistic people. Even so, the early results are encouraging. EMDR follows a clear, predictable structure and does not rely on talking at length about a difficult experience, which can suit autistic people well. It can also be adapted. You can choose the form of bilateral stimulation that feels most comfortable, whether eye movements, tapping or sounds. Session length and breaks can be adjusted, each step can be explained before we begin, and more time can be spent on preparation and grounding. You can pause or stop at any point. Experiences such as sensory overload or sudden change are treated as valid things to work on. Neurodivergence is one of my clinical interests. EMDR focuses on the distress that past experiences still cause. It is not about changing autistic traits. If you would like to find out whether EMDR could help, get in touch to arrange an initial conversation. Sources Leuning, E. M., van den Berk-Smeekens, I., van Dongen-Boomsma, M., & Staal, W. G. (2023). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in adolescents with autism: Efficacy on ASD symptoms and stress. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 981975. Lobregt-van Buuren, E., Sizoo, B., Mevissen, L., & de Jongh, A. (2019). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy as a feasible and potential effective treatment for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a history of adverse events. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(1), 151–164. National Autistic Society. (2022). Post-traumatic stress disorder in autistic people. https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/ptsd-autism Rumball, F., Happé, F., & Grey, N. (2020). Experience of trauma and PTSD symptoms in autistic adults: Risk of PTSD development following DSM-5 and non-DSM-5 traumatic life events. Autism Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2306