How to Apply Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy in People with Suicidal Intrusions

Intrusive suicidal mental images, visualizing one’s future suicide and consequences, frequently occur in patients with depression, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and other psychiatric disorders. Until recently, such intrusive images were not treated as targets for suicide prevention in health care or even avoided for fear that it would be dangerous to do so. A recent experimental study revealed that eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy considerably alleviated these intrusions in patients with depressive symptoms. The present paper offers a background on the frequency and suffering associated with suicidal intrusions, assessment procedures, the rationale for applying EMDR therapy using the flashforward procedure as an add-on intervention in regular mental health care, and available evidence for applying this approach. In addition, the EMDR flashforward protocol for suicidal intrusions is presented.