113142 - EMDR therapy: a comprehensive introduction for medical practitioners.

To provide medical practitioners with a comprehensive introduction to Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR therapy) as an integrative approach to psychotherapy. 

Over 30 randomised controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of EMDR therapy in treating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Evidence is accumulating for its efficacy across a wide spectrum of psychopathology (Shapiro, 2012).

GPs are at the forefront of mental health services worldwide, yet often have little training in this area and rely heavily on the prescription of psychotropic medication. 

A majority of Australian GPs (63%) identify mental health problems as the most common type of problem presenting to them (RACGP, 2017). Data from 22 comparable countries show that a majority of people choose GPs (55-92%) ahead of psychologists (7-38%), or psychiatrists (5-24%) to deal with their mental health problems (OECD, 2010). 

Australian data show that 12.4% of all GP consultations are explicitly mental health related and another 20% may have a significant mental health component. GPs prescribe or recommend psychotropic medication at 62% of mental health related consultations (BEACH, 2016). 

Prescription of anti-depressants in Australia have risen 10-fold since 1990 and anti-psychotics 2.5 fold. 87.6% of these prescriptions are written by GPs. 1:8 people now take these drugs daily (Roughead, 2017).