The effectiveness of EMDR with adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse

A randomized experimental evaluation found support for EMDR in reducing trauma among adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Article Abstract

“A randomized experimental evaluation found support for the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in reducing trauma symptoms among adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Fifty-nine women were assigned randomly to one of three groups: (1) individual EMDR treatment (six sessions); (2) routine individual treatment (six sessions); or (3) delayed treatment control group. A MANOVA was statistically significant at both posttest and follow-up. In univariate ANOVAs for each of four standardized outcome measures EMDR group members scored significantly better than controls at posttest. In a three-month follow-up, EMDR participants scored significantly better than routine individual treatment participants on two of the four measures, with large effect sizes suggestive of clinical significance.”

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Edmond, T., Rubin, A., & Wambach, K. G. (1999). The effectiveness of EMDR with adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Social Work Research, 23(2), 103-116. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/23.2.103