Recent research evaluating the role of eye movements in EMDR

Findings of component studies are summarized, with a review of studies which reported that EMs reduced memory vividness and emotiveness. The results of three recent studies are presented. 1) A study evaluated the effects of EMs on the components of memory to test working memory explanations of EMDR; 2) a study using participants with dental phobia determined if memories of disturbing dental events,and related dental anxiety, were influenced by EMs; 3) A large-N comparison with combat veterans, compared EMDR and a non-eye-movement analog to evaluate the effect of EMs on treatment outcome, process and changes in trauma narratives.

Conference

English

Nancy Smyth
Louise Maxfield
Susan Rogers

Smyth, N., Maxfield, L., & Rogers, S. (2003, September). Recent research evaluating the role of eye movements in EMDR. Presentation at the 8th EMDR International Association Conference, Denver, CO