This preliminary study sought to evaluate the potential effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) as a treatment modality for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Using a single-case design with multiple baselines across four subjects, the effectiveness of 15 EMDR sessions was evaluated. Results indicate that subsequent to targeting the experiential contributors to GAD and the current and anticipated situations that caused excessive worry, the scores of anxiety and of excessive worry dropped to levels below diagnostic threshold and in two cases to full remission of GAD symptoms. At both posttreatment and at 2 months follow-up, all four participants no longer presented with GAD diagnosis. In addition, time-series analyses (ARMA) indicate statistically significant improvement on both daily measures of worry and anxiety over the course of the EMDR treatment.
Date
March 1, 2008
Creator(s)
Philippe Gauvreau, Stéphane Bouchard
Topics
Anxiety/Panic/Phobias
Extent
15 pages
Publisher
Springer Publishing Company
Rights
Copyright © 2008 EMDR International Association
APA Citation
Gauvreau, P., & Bouchard, S. (2008). Preliminary Evidence for the Efficacy of EMDR in Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 2(1), 26–40. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.2.1.26
Series
2
Installment
1
Audience
EMDR Therapists
Language
English
Content Type
Peer-Reviewed
Original Source
Journal of EMDR Practice and Research
Access Type
Open Access