EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND PROCESSING (EMDR)

 

OVERVIEW

 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Processing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment for children and young adults of all ages, designed to alleviate distress associated with psychological trauma.  EMDR requires patients to recall traumatic memories in brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on external stimuli.  In an evaluation of the treatment program, 85 females between the ages of 16 and 25 were randomly assigned to receive either EMDR or Active Listening therapy (AL), which utilized more traditional therapy techniques.  Results for 60 females after therapy indicated that individuals in both intervention groups showed improvements in depression, anxiety, self-concept, and symptoms and problems associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) immediately after treatment.  However, patients receiving the EMDR therapy improved significantly more on these indicators than patients receiving the AL therapy. 

 

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

 

Target population:  Children, adolescents and young adults who have experienced physical and/or emotional trauma, such as abuse.

 

Eyes Movement Desensitization and Processing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment designed to alleviate distress associated with psychological trauma.  The therapy requires patients to recall traumatic memories in brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on external stimuli, such as the therapist’s lateral eye movements, hand-tapping, or audio clips.  This process is designed to pair relaxing stimuli with the stressful event, thus reducing future distress associated with recalling the traumatic memories.  EMDR is typically administered by a trained therapist in 90-minute sessions.  The length of treatment depends on the severity of the trauma.

 

On site training for EMDR costs about $1,500 and at-home study costs $154 for a book, test, and certificate of completion.

 

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

 

Scheck, M. M., Schaeffer, J. A., & Gillette, C. (1998). Brief psychological intervention with traumatized young women: The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.  Journal of Traumatic Stress, 11, 25-44.

 

Evaluated population:  85 females between the ages of 16 and 25 residing in El Paso, Texas who reported a traumatic memory and a recent history of dysfunctional behaviors, such as substance use or sexual promiscuity, served as the sample for this evaluation.  Twenty-five of 85 were lost to follow-up at post-test, though both groups were found to be similar on measured variables at the time of the pre-test.  The analysis sample was made up of 62% Caucasians, 15% African-Americans, 15% Hispanics, and 8% Native Americans.

 

Approach:  Upon entrance into the study, participants were assessed for presence of, severity of, and problems associated with posttraumatic stress disorder as well as levels of depression, anxiety, and positive and negative self-concept.

 

Following these assessments, participants were randomly assigned to receive either the EMDR therapy or active listening therapy (AL).  In both study conditions, participants attended two, 90-minute therapy sessions.  Participants in the EMDR group were asked to recall traumatic memories while simultaneously being exposed to relaxing physical stimuli.  Participants in the AL group engaged in more typical treatment sessions with their therapists.  Therapists using AL focused on establishing good rapport, communicating expectations of gain, and using sympathetic attention techniques.

 

Following the treatments, participants were once again assessed for problems and symptoms associated with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and positive and negative self-concept.

 

Results:  Results indicated that individuals in both intervention groups showed improvements in depression, anxiety, self-concept, and symptoms and problems associated with PTSD immediately after treatment.  However, patients receiving the EMDR therapy improved statistically significantly more on four of these indicators than patients receiving the AL therapy (all but self-concept). 

 

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Link to program manual: 

 

http://www.emdr.com/treatment.htm

 

Information on implementing this program can be obtained from:

 

EMDR Institute, Inc.

PO Box 750

Watsonville, CA 95077

Phone: (831) 761-1040

E-mail: inst@emdr.com

 

References:

 

Scheck, M. M., Schaeffer, J. A., & Gillette, C. (1998). Brief psychological intervention with traumatized young women: The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.  Journal of Traumatic Stress, 11, 25-44.

 

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

 

Evaluated participant ages: 16 to 25

Evaluated participant grades:  N/A

Program age ranges in the guide: Adolescence, Youth, Young Adults

Program components:  Counseling/Therapy, Clinic/Provider-Based

Measured outcomes:  Social/Emotional, Mental Health

 

KEYWORDS: adolescents, youth, young adults, female, White/Caucasian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, clinic-based, Counseling/Therapy, Depression/Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders/Symptoms, Self-Esteem, manual, cost

 

Program information last updated on 9/10/09.

 

		© Child Trends 2003