Mindfulness meditation training combined with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in psychotherapy of an elderly patient

We present our experiences with an elderly patient with depression that was attributed to a surge of physical ailments who also had trauma-derived fear of having to undergo a tracheotomy. He refused pharmacotherapy and was offered intensive training in Mindfulness Meditation (MM) plus Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy during the 2 weeks of hospitalization. This treatment combination had not been used previously. We suggest that EMDR eliminated his fear of surgery, whereas MM relieved his depression and attendant anxiety. However, the two techniques appeared to work synergistically. Following his discharge, he continued to practice MM, which prevented the recurrence of emotional distress, and even helped to reduce its causative physical symptoms. We offer an explanation for the success of our combined treatments and discuss the potential usefulness in specific psychotherapeutic situations. We also propose a place for MM within general geriatric care, and point out the reluctance to consider the therapeutic value of meditation.