Brief eclectic psychotherapy v. eye movements desensitization and reprocessing therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: Randomized controlled trial

EMDR results in a faster recovery for PTSD symptoms compared with the more gradual improvement with brief eclectic psychotherapy.

Article Abstract

“Background: Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) are efficacious treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but few studies have directly compared them using well-powered designs and few have investigated response patterns.

Aims: To compare the efficacy and response pattern of a trauma-focused CBT modality, brief eclectic psychotherapy for PTSD, with EMDR (trial registration: ISRCTN64872147).

Method: Out-patients with PTSD were randomly assigned to brief eclectic psychotherapy (n = 70) or EMDR (n = 70) and assessed at all sessions on self-reported PTSD (Impact of Event Scale – Revised). Other outcomes were clinician-rated PTSD, anxiety and depression.

Results: Both treatments were equally effective in reducing PTSD symptom severity, but the response pattern indicated that EMDR led to a significantly sharper decline in PTSD symptoms than brief eclectic psychotherapy, with similar drop-out rates (EMDR: n = 20 (29%), brief eclectic psychotherapy: n = 25 (36%)). Other outcome measures confirmed this pattern of results.

Conclusions: Although both treatments are effective, EMDR results in a faster recovery compared with the more gradual improvement with brief eclectic psychotherapy.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access

Nijdam, M. J., Gersons, B. P. R., Reitsma, J. B., de Jongh, A., & Olff, M. (2012). Brief eclectic psychotherapy v. eye movements desensitization and reprocessing therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: Randomized controlled trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 200, 224-231. Open access: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.111.099234