Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for panic disorder: A controlled outcome and partial dismantling study

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

Article Abstract

“Forty-three outpatients with DSM-III-R (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd Ed., revised; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) panic disorders were randomly assigned to receive 6 sessions of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), the same treatment but omitting the eye movement, or to a waiting list. Posttest comparisons showed EMDR to be more effective in alleviating panic and panic-related symptoms than the waiting-list procedure. Compared with the same treatment without the eye movement, EMDR led to greater improvement on 2 of 5 primary outcome measures at posttest. However, EMDR’s advantages had dissipated 3 months after treatment, thereby failing to firmly support the usefulness of the eye movement component in EMDR treatment for panic disorder.”

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Feske, U., & Goldstein, A. J. (1997). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for panic disorder: A controlled outcome and partial dismantling study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65(6), 1026-1035. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.65.6.1026