EMDR in Medical Practice: Treating Somatic Disorders, Chronic Pain & Medical Trauma

In the modern clinical landscape, the presentation of trauma is no longer confined to the psychiatrist’s office. General Practitioners (GPs), cardiologists, and gastroenterologists are increasingly encountering patients with complex presentations. These often appear as chronic pain, unexplained somatic symptoms, and treatment-resistant anxiety.

While pharmacotherapy remains a cornerstone of stabilisation, a growing body of evidence suggests that for true resolution, we must look beyond medication.

This guide explores why Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is emerging as a critical, evidence-based tool for medical professionals seeking to treat the root cause of "functional" disorders.

Watch the Full Workshop Video: This article is based on a clinical CPD session featuring Dr Thong (Psychiatrist, UMS), Dr Sumitra (General Practitioner), and Peter Mabbutt (Director of Studies, LCCH).

The "Heart Sink" Patient: The Somatic Connection

Every doctor knows the "heart sink" patient. They present with physical symptoms such as voice loss, chronic gastric pain, or palpitations, yet all organic causes have been excluded.

As noted by Dr Thong Vie Cheong, a psychiatrist and Senior Medical Lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), these are often not "medical mysteries" but biological manifestations of unprocessed trauma.

Trauma is defined not merely by an event but by the individual's emotional, psychological, and physiological response to it. When this response is not processed, it lodges in the body.

The result is often Somatic Symptom Disorder. Their vocal cords freeze (voice loss) or their gut creates ulcers because their nervous system is stuck in survival mode.

The Neuroscience: Why Medication Hits a Ceiling

To understand why "talk therapy" or medication alone often falls short, medical professionals must look at the brain's physiology during trauma.

According to Dr Thong, three key areas are affected:

1. The Amygdala (Fear Centre): Becomes hyperactive. This keeps the patient in a constant state of "fight or flight" known as hyperarousal.

   
   

2. The Hippocampus: Struggles to store memories correctly. Instead of filing the event as "past," the memory remains active and fragmented, causing flashbacks.

   
   

3. The Prefrontal Cortex (Thinking Brain): Goes offline. The patient loses the ability to analyse their situation objectively.

   
   

The Limitation of Pharmacotherapy Medication (SSRIs, anxiolytics) is excellent for dampening the amygdala's alarm. However, as Dr Thong advises, "Medication stabilises; psychotherapy treats". Drugs cannot process the specific memory driving the physiological reaction. This is where EMDR functions as a "neural scalpel," processing the memory so the body can finally relax.

What is "Medical Trauma"?

Trauma is not just about car accidents or war. In a hospital setting, Medical Trauma is a silent epidemic.

It can be caused by:

• ICU Admissions: The sensory overload and helplessness of being intubated.

• Difficult Diagnoses: The shock of receiving a cancer diagnosis or witnessing a death in the ward.

• Procedures: Invasive surgeries that the body registers as an attack.
  

For these patients, the hospital itself becomes a trigger. This often leads to non-compliance and avoidance behaviour, complicating their medical care.

Clinical Case Studies: EMDR in Action

Dr Sumitra, a senior medical practitioner, shares cases where organic causes were excluded yet symptoms persisted until the underlying trauma was treated with EMDR.

Case A: The "Somatic" Loss of Voice (ENT Referral)

• Patient: 55-year-old male referred by an ENT surgeon for gradual loss of voice with no organic pathology.

  
  

• History: Deep developmental trauma involving a controlling mother and a partner who "silenced" him for 14 years.

  
  

• The EMDR Intervention: By processing the root attachment trauma (the relationship with the mother), the brain's "freeze" response was deactivated.

  
  

• Outcome: His voice returned fully. He ended the toxic relationship three months later.

  
  

Case B: Treatment-Resistant Stammering (Neurology Referral)

• Patient: 25-year-old male with severe stammering and social isolation.

  
  

• History: Severe childhood bullying starting at age 9.

  
  

• The EMDR Intervention: The therapist identified "touchstone memories" of specific bullying incidents. Processing these memories reduced the nervous system's chronic anxiety.

  
  

• Outcome: Significant improvement in speech. The patient joined Toastmasters and found employment.

  
  

Cultural Adaptability: The Malaysian Context

One of the unique challenges in Asia is the cultural interpretation of trauma. In Malaysia, symptoms of dissociation or PTSD are often viewed through a spiritual lens, such as "spirit interference".

Peter Mabbutt, Director of Studies at LCCH, highlights that EMDR is uniquely suited for this environment. Because EMDR is a client-centred therapy that relies on the patient's own internal processing (AIP Model), it does not require the patient to debate their beliefs.

The Strategy: We do not challenge the belief in spirits. We target the trauma beneath the belief. This makes EMDR a culturally safe and highly effective tool for diverse populations.

Why Medical Doctors Should Upskill in EMDR

For the GP or Specialist, understanding EMDR offers three distinct advantages:

1. Efficiency: Unlike open-ended talk therapies, EMDR is protocol-driven. It is often associated with faster remission rates for PTSD compared to traditional CBT.

   
   

2. Safety (Reduced Vicarious Trauma): The patient does not need to verbally relive every gory detail of the event. This protects the clinician from burnout.

   
   

3. Holistic Care: It provides a referral pathway or a treatment option when medication has reached its limit.

   
   

Course Information: Specialist Certificate in EMDR

For medical professionals interested in expanding their skillset, LCCH Asia offers the Specialist Certificate in EMDR.

• Format: 4-month part-time programme (Live Virtual).

  
  

• Clinical Focus: Practical demonstration of techniques (Visual, Auditory, and Kinaesthetic Bilateral Stimulation) from day one.

  
  

• Recognition: Developed in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and the EMDR Global Network to ensure cultural relevance.

  
  

Next Intake: January 2026.

Move your patients from surviving symptoms to true recovery.

View EMDR Course Syllabus