EMDR as a treatment for test anxiety

We assigned sixty-two test-anxious undergraduates to eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), rational emotive therapy (RET), and information only, which were administered in a single session by trained, "blind" therapists. At posttest, EMDR was most effective in reducing distress whereas RET decreased global test anxiety more than information only. These results may reflect the differential impact of EMDR and RET on verbalized distress and on combined affective and cognitive dimensions of test anxiety, respectively. Perceptions of therapist credibility and helpfulness of treatment moderated the results. We discuss the clinical and research implications of these findings.

Journal

English

Michael J. Stevens
Dan W. Florell

Stevens, M. J., & Florell, D. W. (1999). EMDR as a treatment for test anxiety. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 18(4), 285-296. doi:10.2190/FJWQ-HKQQ-UEJW-6VLH