“When I am breathless now, I don’t have the fear that’s linked to it”: a case series on the potential of EMDR to break the dyspnea-anxiety cycle in COPD

Abstract

Key message This case series uses mixed methods to explore EMDR as a novel intervention in COPD patients with severe breathlessness. Our results support our hypothesis that EMDR may improve breathlessness mastery in patients with COPD and previous severe breathlessness crises, by decreasing the anxiety component.

Keywords

• COPD
• Breathlessness
• EMDR