Efficacy Archives

Traumatic memories, eye movements, phobia, and panic: A critical note on the proliferation of EMDR (Journal of Anxiety Disorders)

This article critically evaluates three recurring assumptions in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) literature.

Does EMDR work? And if so, why?: A critical review of controlled outcome and dismantling research (Journal of Anxiety Disorders)

EMDR appears to be effective in reducing at least some distress relative to no-treatment for anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD.

The relative efficacy and treatment distress of EMDR and a cognitive-behavior trauma treatment protocol in the amelioration of posttraumatic stress disorder (Journal of Anxiety Disorders)

The present research compared EMDR and a CBT variant for PTSD, via a controlled clinical study using therapists trained in both procedures.

The cognitive dismantling of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Journal of Anxiety Disorders)

This study showed that a two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that EMDR produced significant symptom reductions.

Comparative efficacy of treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder: a meta-analysis (Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy)

Meta-analysis that showed psychological therapies were more effective than drug therapies, and both were more effective than controls.

Efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Implications for behavior therapy (Behavior Therapy)

In this article, authors examine 17 recent studies on the effectiveness of EMDR and the conceptual analysis of its mechanisms of action.

Controlled study of treatment of PTSD using EMDR in an HMO setting (Psychotherapy)

Clients who received EMDR treatment for their PTSD used fewer medication appointments and needed fewer psychotherapy appointments.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for panic disorder: A controlled outcome and partial dismantling study (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology)

Clients with panic disorders received either EMDR, no eye movement, or wait list. EMDR was more effective, however results didn’t last.

EMDR minus eye movements equals good psychotherapy (Journal of Traumatic Stress)

It is argued that EMDR is efficacious independent of its parts (e.g., eye movements) because it applies accepted principles of psychotherapy.

Eye movement desensitisation: Past research, complexities, and future directions (Australian Psychologist)

This paper reviews the present state of knowledge (1996 publication) about the efficacy of EMDR therapy as a treatment, and identifies basic problems with much of the research.

Emotional processing during eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy of Vietnam veterans with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (Comprehensive Psychiatry)

Results suggest that eye movements do not play a significant role in processing of traumatic information in EMDR.

Comment on Greenwald (1996): The assessment of fidelity to the EMDR treatment protocol (Professional Psychology: Research and Practice)

Van Ommeren recommends the formation of a panel that can assess whether or not the treatments used in EMDR outcome studies have fidelity.

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