Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for panic disorder:  A controlled outcome and partial dismantling study

43 outpatients with DSM-III-R panic disorder were randomly assigned to receive 6 sessions of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), the same treatment but omitting the eye movement, or to a waiting list. Posttest comparisons showed EMDR to be more effective in alleviating panic and panic-related symptoms than the waiting-list procedure. Compared with the same treatment without the eye movement, EMDR led to greater improvement on 2 of 5 primary outcome measures at posttest. However, EMDR's advantages had dissipated 3 months after treatment, thereby failing to firmly support the usefulness of the eye movement component in EMDR treatment for panic disorder.

Journal

English

Ulrike Feske
Alan J. Goldstein

Feske, U., & Goldstein, A. J. (1997, December). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for panic disorder: A controlled outcome and partial dismantling study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65(6), 1026-1035. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.65.6.1026