Effectiveness of Self-Administered EMDR via an Online Platform for Distress Reduction: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study

This study investigated the effectiveness of self-administered Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) sessions delivered via the Project Camus mental health application.

Abstract

“This study investigated the effectiveness of self-administered Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) sessions delivered via the Project Camus mental health application.

The study utilized deidentified data from 500 users, tracking their self-reported distress levels associated with a traumatic memory before and after 1, 2, or 3+ EMDR sessions.

Users who completed one EMDR session experienced a 24% reduction in distress intensity. This effect was amplified with increased sessions, with two sessions yielding a 33% reduction and three or more sessions producing a 40% reduction. An ANOVA test confirmed that the differences in distress reductions across these groups were statistically significant (F-value: 8.17, p-value: 0.0003).

Thematic analysis of post-session reviews revealed key themes of direct improvement, emotional reprocessing, and behavioral reprocessing, supporting the quantitative findings. These results suggest that self-administered EMDR via digital platforms may significantly reduce distress related to traumatic memories, with increased sessions leading to greater reductions. This study has implications for enhancing the accessibility and scalability of EMDR treatment, though further research is warranted to optimize this intervention strategy.”

—Description from source

Access

Ali, S. A. (2023). Effectiveness of self-administered EMDR via an online platform for distress reduction: A quantitative and qualitative study. Open access: https://www.projectcamus.com/emdrStudyDesktop.php#abstract