EMDR treatment for chemical dependency:  Training for participation in a multisite study

This workshop is aimed at Level II EMDR trained clinicians working with chemical dependency who may be interested in participating in a pilot multisite research study. Data collected at various sites will be pooled and statistically analyzed by Dr. J. G. Carlson at the University of Hawaii. The goal of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of EMDR treatment with individuals diagnosed with chemical dependency/abuse. Treatment is aimed at utilizing EMDR to target urges (Popky's protocol), as well as other issues arising in treatment which are trauma-based (Vogelmann-Sine & Sine's protocol). Both protocols will be utilized depending on the individual needs of the clients. The treatment protocols are aimed at preparing clients for the use of EMDR, assisting them in coping with overwhelming affect without resorting to drugs and alcohol, and teaching them about the interrelationship between trauma and substance use. Both protocols generally target current disturbances and resolve traumatic material as it becomes available. Over time, clients become capable of resolving underlying traumatic material. Participants will receive training in how to implement the EMDR protocols and the protocol adapted from Project MATCH. In addition, they will be familiarized with the assessment instruments utilized in the study and specifics related to the implementation of the pilot study. Individuals working in private practice settings are able to participate. Training is practical and applied. The experimental design consists of randomly assigning individuals to one of three groups, all of which will receive routine clinical care: (1) the EMDR treatment condition, (2) an attention/delayed EMDR treatment in which individuals will receive a cognitive behavioral coping skills training adapted from Project MATCH and later EMDR treatment, and (3) a routine clinical care condition only. Clients in the routine clinical care condition will be offered EMDR treatment after follow-up assessment is completed. All participants will be assessed on a range of instruments including the following: Addiction Severity Index, Brief Readiness for Treatment Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Trauma Symptom Inventory, Spielberger State Trait Personality Inventory, SCL-90-R, Dissociative Experiences Scale, Life Orientation Test, and additional substance use measures. Relative to pretreatment, it is expected that at post treatment and follow-up, relative to routine clinical care and the attention-control treatment, significant differences in scores should be obtained. In particular, a decrease is expected on all measures indicating use of substances, as well as urges to use. A significant decrease is also predicted in the severity of overall PTSD symptomotology, scales measuring clinical symptoms of anxiety, depression, hostility, and interpersonal sensitivity assessed by the SCL-90-R, and negative emotional trait indicators as assessed by the Spielberger State Trait Personality Inventory. A significant increase is expected in positive emotional trait indicators and indicators of social functioning.

Conference

English

Silke Vogelmann-Sine
Larry F. Sine
Arnold J. "AJ" Popky

Vogelmann-Sine, S., Sine, L. F., & Popky, A. J. (1997, July). EMDR treatment for chemical dependency: Training for participation in a multisite study. Presentation at the 2nd EMDR International Association Conference, San Francisco, CA