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A meta-analysis of the contribution of eye movements in processing emotional memories (Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry)

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Home / Resources / A meta-analysis of the contribution of eye movements in processing emotional memories (Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry)

A meta-analysis of the contribution of eye movements in processing emotional memories

The aim of this meta-analysis was to examine current published studies to test whether eye movements affect the processing of distressing memories.


Article Abstract

“Background and objectives: Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is now considered evidence based practice in the treatment of trauma symptoms. Yet in a previous meta-analysis, no significant effect was found for the eye movement component. However methodological issues with this study may have resulted in a type II error. The aim of this meta-analysis was to examine current published studies to test whether eye movements significantly affect the processing of distressing memories.

Method: A systematic review of the literature revealed two groups of studies. The first group comprised 15 clinical trials and compared the effects of EMDR therapy with eye movements to those of EMDR without the eye movements. The second group comprised 11 laboratory trials that investigated the effects of eye movements while thinking of a distressing memory versus the same procedure without the eye movements in a non-therapy context. The total number of participants was 849.

Results: The effect size for the additive effect of eye movements in EMDR treatment studies was moderate and significant (Cohen’s d = 0.41). For the second group of laboratory studies the effect size was large and significant (d = 0.74). The strongest effect size difference was for vividness measures in the non-therapy studies (d = 0.91). The data indicated that treatment fidelity acted as a moderator variable on the effect of eye movements in the therapy studies.

Conclusions: Results were discussed in terms of current theories that suggest the processes involved in EMDR are different from other exposure based therapies.

Highlights

  • Previous meta-analysis that concluded eye movements are irrelevant had methodological issues.
  • Eye movements effect processing emotional memories when compared to no eye movements.
  • The effect size for eye movements in a therapy context was moderate and significant.
  • The effect size for eye movements in a laboratory setting was large and significant.
  • EMDR treatment fidelity was associated with a larger effect size for eye movements.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Purchase/Subscription Required

Lee, C. W., & Cuijpers, P. (2013). A meta-analysis of the contribution of eye movements in processing emotional memories. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 44(2), 231-239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2012.11.001

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Basic Info Collapse

Date
June 1, 2013

Creator(s)
Christopher William Lee, Pim Cuijpers

Practice & Methods
BLS

More Info Collapse

Extent
9 pages

Publisher
Elsevier

Rights
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

APA Citation
Lee, C. W., & Cuijpers, P. (2013). A meta-analysis of the contribution of eye movements in processing emotional memories. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2012.11.001

Audience
EMDR Therapists, Other Mental Health Professionals

Language
English

Content Type
Article, Meta-analyses/Systematic Reviews, Peer-Reviewed

Access Type
External Resource

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