Investigation of the effect of EMDR therapy on psychosomatic symptoms and early malaptive schemas: An analysis of 5 cases

Objectives: This study examined the effects of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy on psychosomatic symptoms and early maladaptive schemas. Methods: This study used a single-group pretest-posttest multiple case design, conducted without a control group. Five voluntary participants aged 18 and over were selected via purposive sampling. Data were collected through a Demographic Information Form, the Young Schema Questionnaire, and the Somatization Scale(33 items, derived from the MMPI). Results: All participants showed decreases in early maladaptive schemas and psychosomatic symptoms after EMDR therapy, indicating its effectiveness in reducing both cognitive and somatic distress. Conclusions: EMDR therapy appears effective in alleviating psychosomatic symptoms and maladaptive schemas. These findings support its clinical use and highlight the need for further research with larger samples.