Neurobiological impact of EMDR in cancer

In the recent years, several studies have highlighted how psychological trauma can cause anatomical and functional changes in specific brain areas associated with the onset of post-traumatic symptoms. Thanks to the development of neuroimaging techniques such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), it was possible to identify the brain circuits involved in the pathophysiology of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Several studies have shown that 5 to 35% of patients with cancer might suffer from post-traumatic symptoms related to their disease (Kangas et al., 2002; National Cancer Institute, 2012).