The use of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in treating a public speaking anxiety/phobia for individuals of high, moderate, and low absorption ability

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a relatively new and seemingly effective but controversial therapeutic treatment used primarily for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and related anxiety disorders such as phobias. In this study, EMDR was used to treat a public speaking anxiety or public speaking phobia. It was predicted that EMDR would be an effective treatment but that the efficacy would vary as a function of the absorption ability of the participants. 30 healthy male and female participants between the ages of 18 and 55 were categorized into 3 groups based on their being high (n = 10), moderate (n = 10), or low (n = 10) in absorption ability. Only participants who scored low on the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) were included in the study. Participants received up to 3 sessions of EMDR and were measured on 9 different outcome variables. Significant decreases in Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) verbal ratings were found from baseline to the end of session 1 for all three groups (ps .10). Confidence in verbal reports of positive cognitions (Validity of Cognition scale; VoC) increased equally over the course of treatment for all absorption groups. Between-group comparisons revealed no significant differences between the absorption groups at the end of treatment on their verbal reports of disturbance (SUDS) and positive cognitions (VoC) regarding past, ongoing, and future projected speaking events.

Dissertation/Thesis

English

Richard Malachi Scott

Scott, R. M. (2004). The use of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in treating a public speaking anxiety/phobia for individuals of high, moderate, and low absorption ability. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 64(9-B), 4635