References for Treating Suicidal Ideations Podcast October 2025
This blog posting provides the complete reference list for studies mentioned in the second episode of EMDR The Science Behind the Therapy — "Using EMDR to Treat Suicidal Intrusions". This episode provides a review of the evidence base on use of EMDR for suicidal intrusions and then features an interview with Ad Kerkhof and Ad de Jongh, researchers and clinicians from the Netherlands who with Hans-Jaap Oppenheim published the clinical instruction article in June 2025 in the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research.
You are invited to listen to the third podcast episode of EMDR: The Science Behind the Therapy. Available now in your favorite podcasting app.
Bremer-Hoeve, S., van Vliet, N. I., van Bronswijk, S. C., Huntjens, R. J. C., de Jongh, A., & van Dijk, M. K. (2023). Predictors of treatment dropout in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder due to childhood abuse1. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1194669
Burback, L., Yap, S., Purdon, S. E., Abba-Aji, A., O’Shea, K., Brémault-Phillips, S., Greenshaw, A. J., & Winkler, O. (2024). Randomized controlled trial investigating web-based, therapist delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for adults with suicidal ideation. Front Psychiatry, 15, 1361086. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1361086
Fereidouni, Z., Behnammoghadam, M., Jahanfar, A., & Dehghan, A. (2019). The Effect of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) on the severity of suicidal thoughts in patients with major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, Volume 15, 2459-2466. https://doi.org/10.2147/ndt.s210757
Hafkemeijer, L., de Jongh, A., Starrenburg, A., Hoekstra, T., & Slotema, K. (2024). EMDR treatment in patients with personality disorders. Should we fear symptom exacerbation? Eur J Psychotraumatol, 15(1), 2407222. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2024.2407222
Jamshidi, F., Rajabi, S., & Dehghani, Y. (2020). How to heal their psychological wounds? Effectiveness of EMDR therapy on post‐traumatic stress symptoms, mind‐wandering and suicidal ideation in Iranian child abuse victims. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 1-10. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/capr.12339
Kerkhof, A. J. F. M., Jongh, A., & Oppenheim, H.-J. (2025). How to Apply Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy in People with Suicidal Intrusions. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 19, 0. https://doi.org/10.34133/jemdr.0008
Lawrence, H. R., Balkind, E. G., Ji, J. L., Burke, T. A., & Liu, R. T. (2023). Mental imagery of suicide and non-suicidal self-injury: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 103, Article 102302.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2023.102302
Proudlock, S., & Peris, J. (2020). Using EMDR therapy with patients in an acute mental health crisis. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2426-7
Ringel, E. (1976). The Presuicidal Syndrome. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 6(3), 131-149. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1943-278X.1976.tb00328.x
Sareen, J., Cox, B. J., Stein, M. B., Afifi, T. O., Fleet, C., & Asmundson, G. J. G. (2007). Physical and Mental Comorbidity, Disability, and Suicidal Behavior Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in a Large Community Sample. Psychosomatic Medicine, 69(3), 242-248. https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0b013e31803146d8
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movements desensitization and reprocessing. Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Spector, J., & Kremer, S. (2009). Can I Use EMDR With Clients Who Report Suicidal Ideation? Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 3(2), 107-108. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.3.2.107
van Bentum, J. S., Sijbrandij, M., Kerkhof, A. J. F. M., Holmes, E. A., Arntz, A., Bachrach, N., Bollen, C. S. C., Creemers, D., van Dijk, M. K., Dingemanse, P., van Haaren, M., Hesseling, M., Huisman, A., Kraanen, F. L., Stikkelbroek, Y., Twisk, J., Van, H. L., Vrijsen, J., de Winter, R. F. P., . . . Huibers, M. J. H. (2024). Reducing intrusive suicidal mental images in patients with depressive symptoms through a dual-task add-on module: Results of a multicenter randomized clinical trial. J Consult Clin Psychol, 92(11), 756-768. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000874
https://research.tilburguniversity.edu/en/publications/580dffcb-b545-4609-9bdc-64a0b3c09ff7
van Vliet, N. I., Huntjens, R. J. C., van Dijk, M. K., Huisman, M., Bachrach, N., Meewisse, M. L., van Haren, S., & de Jongh, A. (2023). Predictors and moderators of treatment outcomes in phase-based treatment and trauma-focused treatments in patients with childhood abuse-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Eur J Psychotraumatol, 15(1), 2300589. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2300589
van Vliet, N. I., Huntjens, R. J. C., van Dijk, M. K., Bachrach, N., Meewisse, M.-L., & de Jongh, A. (2021). Phase-based treatment versus immediate trauma-focused treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder due to childhood abuse: randomised clinical trial. BJPsych Open, 7(6). https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.1057
Yap, S., Bal, M., Youakim, M., Aborawi, A., Di Pinto, G., Samways, K., Amy, B., Bright, K. S., Bremault-Phillips, S., Greenshaw, A., Winkley, O., & Burback, L. (2025). Courage, hope, and transformation: Patient experiences of web-based, therapist delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for suicidal ideation. Plos Mental Health, 2(8). https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyae059.442
Bremer-Hoeve, S., van Vliet, N. I., van Bronswijk, S. C., Huntjens, R. J. C., de Jongh, A., & van Dijk, M. K. (2023). Predictors of treatment dropout in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder due to childhood abuse1. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1194669
Burback, L., Yap, S., Purdon, S. E., Abba-Aji, A., O’Shea, K., Brémault-Phillips, S., Greenshaw, A. J., & Winkler, O. (2024). Randomized controlled trial investigating web-based, therapist delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for adults with suicidal ideation. Front Psychiatry, 15, 1361086. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1361086
Fereidouni, Z., Behnammoghadam, M., Jahanfar, A., & Dehghan, A. (2019). The Effect of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) on the severity of suicidal thoughts in patients with major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, Volume 15, 2459-2466. https://doi.org/10.2147/ndt.s210757
Hafkemeijer, L., de Jongh, A., Starrenburg, A., Hoekstra, T., & Slotema, K. (2024). EMDR treatment in patients with personality disorders. Should we fear symptom exacerbation? Eur J Psychotraumatol, 15(1), 2407222. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2024.2407222
Jamshidi, F., Rajabi, S., & Dehghani, Y. (2020). How to heal their psychological wounds? Effectiveness of EMDR therapy on post‐traumatic stress symptoms, mind‐wandering and suicidal ideation in Iranian child abuse victims. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 1-10. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/capr.12339
Kerkhof, A. J. F. M., Jongh, A., & Oppenheim, H.-J. (2025). How to Apply Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy in People with Suicidal Intrusions. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 19, 0. https://doi.org/10.34133/jemdr.0008
Lawrence, H. R., Balkind, E. G., Ji, J. L., Burke, T. A., & Liu, R. T. (2023). Mental imagery of suicide and non-suicidal self-injury: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 103, Article 102302.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2023.102302
Proudlock, S., & Peris, J. (2020). Using EMDR therapy with patients in an acute mental health crisis. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2426-7
Ringel, E. (1976). The Presuicidal Syndrome. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 6(3), 131-149. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1943-278X.1976.tb00328.x
Sareen, J., Cox, B. J., Stein, M. B., Afifi, T. O., Fleet, C., & Asmundson, G. J. G. (2007). Physical and Mental Comorbidity, Disability, and Suicidal Behavior Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in a Large Community Sample. Psychosomatic Medicine, 69(3), 242-248. https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0b013e31803146d8
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movements desensitization and reprocessing. Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Spector, J., & Kremer, S. (2009). Can I Use EMDR With Clients Who Report Suicidal Ideation? Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 3(2), 107-108. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.3.2.107
van Bentum, J. S., Sijbrandij, M., Kerkhof, A. J. F. M., Holmes, E. A., Arntz, A., Bachrach, N., Bollen, C. S. C., Creemers, D., van Dijk, M. K., Dingemanse, P., van Haaren, M., Hesseling, M., Huisman, A., Kraanen, F. L., Stikkelbroek, Y., Twisk, J., Van, H. L., Vrijsen, J., de Winter, R. F. P., . . . Huibers, M. J. H. (2024). Reducing intrusive suicidal mental images in patients with depressive symptoms through a dual-task add-on module: Results of a multicenter randomized clinical trial. J Consult Clin Psychol, 92(11), 756-768. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000874
https://research.tilburguniversity.edu/en/publications/580dffcb-b545-4609-9bdc-64a0b3c09ff7
van Vliet, N. I., Huntjens, R. J. C., van Dijk, M. K., Huisman, M., Bachrach, N., Meewisse, M. L., van Haren, S., & de Jongh, A. (2023). Predictors and moderators of treatment outcomes in phase-based treatment and trauma-focused treatments in patients with childhood abuse-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Eur J Psychotraumatol, 15(1), 2300589. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2300589
van Vliet, N. I., Huntjens, R. J. C., van Dijk, M. K., Bachrach, N., Meewisse, M.-L., & de Jongh, A. (2021). Phase-based treatment versus immediate trauma-focused treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder due to childhood abuse: randomised clinical trial. BJPsych Open, 7(6). https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.1057
Yap, S., Bal, M., Youakim, M., Aborawi, A., Di Pinto, G., Samways, K., Amy, B., Bright, K. S., Bremault-Phillips, S., Greenshaw, A., Winkley, O., & Burback, L. (2025). Courage, hope, and transformation: Patient experiences of web-based, therapist delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for suicidal ideation. Plos Mental Health, 2(8). https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyae059.442