Controlled study of treatment of PTSD using EMDR in an HMO setting

This article by Steven V. Marcus, Ph.D., Priscilla A. Marquis, Ph.D., and Caroline E. Sakai, Ph.D. shows that clients who received EMDR treatment for their PTSD used fewer medication appointments and needed fewer psychotherapy appointments.

Article Abstract

“67 individuals (aged 18–73 yrs) diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were randomly assigned to either Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment or Standard Care (SC) treatment. Participants were assessed pretreatment, after 3 sessions, and at the completion of treatment using the SCL-90, Beck Depression Inventory, Impact of Event Scale (M. Horowitz et al, 1979), modified PTSD Symptom Scale (S. A. Falsetti et al, 1993), State Trait Anxiety Inventory, and other measures. In addition, an independent evaluator assessed participants using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III-Revised (DSM-III-R) criteria for PTSD including Global Assessment of Functioning at the 3 data points. Ss in the EMDR treatment group showed significantly greater improvement with greater rapidity than those in the SC treatment group on measures of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and general symptoms. Ss who received EMDR treatment used fewer medication appointments for their psychological symptoms and needed fewer psychotherapy appointments.”

—Description from publisher

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Marcus, S. V., Marquis, P., & Sakai, C. (1997). Controlled study of treatment of PTSD using EMDR in an HMO setting. Psychotherapy, 34(3), 307-315.  https://doi.org/10.1037/h0087791