The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

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Eye Movement 18 caused by the trauma of assault or natural disaster (Chemtob, Nakashima, Hamada& Carlson, 1996; Cocco & Sharpe, 1993; Datta and Wallace 1994, Greenwald & Elrod 1999; Shapiro, 1991; Tinker & Wilson, 1999); f) sexual assault victims who are now able to lead normal lives and have intimate relationships (Hyer,1995; Parnell, 1994, 1999; Puk, 1991; Shapiro, 1989, 1991, 1994; Wolpe & Abrams, 1991); and g) accident, surgery, and burn victims who were once emotionally or physically debilitated and who are now able to resume productive lives (Blore, 1997; Hassard, 1993; McCann, 1992; Puk, 1992; Solomon & Kaufman, 1994). There are more controlled studies on EMDR than on any other method used in the treatment of PTSD (Shapiro, 1995, 1996; Spector & Read, 1993; Van Etten & Taylor, 1998). A literature review indicated only six other controlled clinical outcome studies (excluding drug therapy) in the entire field of PTSD (Solomon, Gerrity, and Muff, 1992). The following section includes a discussion of the studies that have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of EMDR. Controlled Studies with Civilians A comparison of EMDR, supportive crisis counseling and non-treatment controls with a one month and three month follow-up, was conducted by Levin, Grainger, Allen-Byrd, and Fulcher (1994). This controlled study of 45 Hurricane Andrew (Florida) survivors found significant differences in scores on the Subject Unit of Disturbance (SUD) and Impact of Event Scales (IES), indicating that EMDR is more successful in the treatment of natural disaster (single trauma) victims than the other treatments used (image habituation training and applied muscle relaxation). A decrease in symptomology was accomplished with only one EMDR session. In another comparative study, Wilson, Covi, Forster, and Silver (1994) randomly assigned 18
Eye Movement 19 subjects suffering from PTSD to eye movement, hand tap, or exposure-only groups. In this study significant differences were found using physiological measures in addition to the SUD scale. The results showed with the eye movement condition only, a reduction of heart rate, skin temperature, and the SUD scale symptomology. These responses occurred during the eye movement sets and therefore the experimenters concluded that EMDR was effective. These two studies show the effectiveness of EMDR in the treatment of PTSD symptoms with only one treatment session. Both of these studies adhered to treatment protocol (fidelity), used sound measures to determine treatment effects, and EMDR instructors assessed the validity of the method used. Vaughan, Armstrong, Gold, O’Connor, Jenneke, and Tarrier (1994) conducted a controlled comparative study using thirty-six subjects diagnosed with PTSD. The subjects were randomly assigned to three to five treatments of 1) imaginal exposure, 2) applied muscle relaxation, or 3) EMDR. The treatment consisted of four sessions, with 60 and 40 minutes of additional daily homework over a two to three week period for the image exposure and muscle relaxation groups. No additional homework was assigned to the EMDR group. All treatments led to significant decreases in PTSD symptoms with greater reduction in the EMDR group, particularly with respect to intrusive symptoms. This comparative study reinforces the effectiveness of EMDR over other forms of treatment, although the study did not report whether or not the clinicians follow standard EMDR procedures. Wilson, Becker, and Tinker assigned 80 trauma subjects (37 diagnosed with PTSD) to treatment or delayed-treatment EMDR conditions and to one of five trained clinicians. Post- treatment data was collected at thirty days, ninety days, and again at twelve months. Substantial
Page 1 and 2: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EYE MOVEMENT D
Page 3 and 4: Acknowledgements Eye Movement 3 The
Page 5 and 6: CHAPTER I Introduction Eye Movement
Page 7 and 8: Eye Movement 7 later only six rando
Page 9 and 10: Eye Movement 9 intervention is effe
Page 11 and 12: CHAPTER II Literature Review Eye Mo
Page 13 and 14: Eye Movement 13 of clinical experie
Page 15 and 16: Eye Movement 15 following section,
Page 17: Eye Movement 17 The Accelerated Inf
Page 21 and 22: Eye Movement 21 compensation from t
Page 23 and 24: Eye Movement 23 mentioned study the
Page 25 and 26: Eye Movement 25 restricted eye move
Page 27 and 28: Eye Movement 27 However, the method
Page 29 and 30: Eye Movement 29 stress disorder: A
Page 31 and 32: Eye Movement 31 Jensen, J.A. (1994)
Page 33 and 34: Eye Movement 33 Puk, G. (1992, May)
Page 35 and 36: Eye Movement 35 Van Der Kolk, B.A.

The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

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