Research and Case Studies on Brainspotting

Research and Case Studies on Brainspotting

While research on brainspotting therapy is an emerging, initial studies show promising outcomes, particularly in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and emotional trauma. Although existing research contains methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes and limited peer-reviewed trials, brainspotting has demonstrated comparable effectiveness to EMDR in several pilot studies. These findings suggest that brainspotting is a valuable trauma therapy worthy of further investigation. The theoretical foundations of Brainspotting are supported by existing research in interpersonal neurobiology, somatic therapy, mindfulness, and trauma-informed approaches. As more clinical trials and peer-reviewed studies are conducted, brainspotting’s place in evidence-based mental health treatment continues to gain interest among trauma specialists, therapists, and researchers.

1. A 2023 IBPJ clinical study compared BSP and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in PTSD clients; while both helped, only the BSP group continued to improve over time, showing deeper, lasting change ibpj.org.
2. Winter 2023-2024 Number 2 Volume 22 INTERNATIONAL BODY PSYCHOTHERAPY JOURNAL 71Brainspotting - A Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Mattos, P., José, F., & Marcelo, M. (2015). Persistent genital arousal disorder as a dissociative trauma-related condition treated with brainspotting - A successful case report. International Journal of School and Cognitive Psychology,1, 1-4. doi: 10.4172/ijscp.S1-002
3. PALSIMON JR., T. O. (2022). The preliminary efficacy and clinical applicability of Brainspotting among Filipino women with severe post traumatic stress disorder. Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 24(1), 54-64. https://doi.org/10.12740/APP/143015
4. Fabio, D., Alessio, M., Franco, F., & Cristiano, C. (2022). Psychotherapeutic techniques for distressing memories: a comparative study between EMDR, Brainspotting, and body scan meditation. Internațional Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1142), 1142-1142. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031142
5. Talbot J, de la Salle S, Jaworska N. A Paradigm Shift in Trauma Treatment: Converging Evidence for a Novel Adaptation of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 2023;68(4):283-285.
Doi:10.1177/07067437221142283
6. D'Antoni F, Matiz A, Fabbro F, Crescentini C. Psychotherapeutic Techniques for Distressing Memories: A Comparative Study between EMDR, Brainspotting, and Body Scan Meditation. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 20;19(3):1142. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031142. PMID: 35162166; PMCID: PMC8835026. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8835026)
7. Joanic Masson, Amal Bernoussi & Charlemagne Simplice Moukouta, (2017). Brainspotting Therapy: About a Bataclan Victim. Center of psychology (EA 7273), University of Picardy Jules Verne, 80025 Amiens, France. 
(https://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/gjhs/article/view/68511)
8. Masson, J., Bernoussi, A., & Moukouta, C. (2017). Brainspotting therapy: About a Bataclan victim. Global Journal of Health Science, 9(7), 103-107. https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v9n7p103
9. Hildebrand, A., Grand, D., & Stemmler, M. (2017). Brainspotting - the efficacy a new therapy approach for the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in comparison to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, Vol 5 (1): 1-16 (http://cab.unime.it/journals/index.php/MJCP/article/view/1376) (http://dx.do i.org/10.6092/2282-1619/2017.5.1376)
10. NSHCF Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation. Inc. (2016).  Report of Findings from the Community Survey. Report available from the Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation. Inc. at (http://www.nshcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-NSHCF-Community-Assessment-Report.pdf)
11. Mattos, Patricia & Fiks, Jose & Mello, Marcelo. (2015). Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder as a Dissociative Trauma Related Condition Treated with Brainspotting A Successful Case Report. Journal of Sexual Medicine. 12. 345-345. 10.4172/2469-9837.1000S1-002.
(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/296087606_PERSISTENT_GENITAL_AROUSAL_DISORDER_AS_A_DISSOCIATIVE_TRAUMA_RELATED_CONDITION_TREATED_WITH_BRAINSPOTTING_-_A_SUCCESSFUL_CASE_REPORT)
12. Corrigan F, Grand D., Raju, R. (2015), Brainspotting: Sustained attention, spinothalamic tracts, thalamocortical processing, and the healing of adaptive orientation truncated by traumatic experience. Medical Hypotheses, 84 384-394 PMID 23665861 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25665861)
13. Gurda, K. (2015). Emerging trauma therapies: Critical analysis and discussion of three novel approaches. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 24(7), 773-793. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2015.1062445
14. Corrigan, F. M., & Hull, A. M. (2015). Recognition of the neurobiological insults imposed by complex trauma and the implications for psychotherapeutic interventions. BJPsych Bulletin, 39(2): 79-86.
(http://pb.rcpsych.org/content/39/2/79 ) doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.114.047134
15. Anderegg, J. (2015). Effective treatments for generalized anxiety disorder. 
(https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Effective-treatments-for-generalized-anxiety-Anderegg/a206d7015dda058be4a6e93d16da66152ffef07d)
16. Hildebrand, A., Grand, D., & Stemmler, M. (2014). A preliminary study of the efficacy of Brainspotting: a new therapy approach for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen Nuremberg, Version:14.1129.05.2012 13(1): 84-92.
17. Corrigan, F., & Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: Recruiting the midbrain for accessing and healing sensorimotor memories of traumatic activation. Medical Hypotheses, 80, 759-766. PMID 23570648 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23570648) DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2013.03.005