Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in battered women: Alleviation of post-traumatic stress disorder

This study assessed the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in treating battered women. 5 battered women who received EMDR treatment experienced a significant reduction from pre to posttest (approximately 45 days) in post traumatic stress (t = 3.68, p < .05), state anxiety (t=5.86, p < .05),trait anxiety (t=6.14, p < .05), and depression (t=5.60, p < .05).  Battered women (N=5) who completed the same shelter program did not undergo EMDR streatment also showed reduced PTSD (t=4.50, p < .05), state anxiety (t=3.28, p < .05), and depression (t=6.03, p < .05).  The average reduction for the shelter + EMDR subjects on the four independent measures was as follows:  Impact of Events: 27.8, STAI Y-1:30.2, STAI Y-2:21.8 and Beck:16.8.  Scortes for the shelter-only subjects were reduced on all four measures but to a far lesser extent:  Impace of Events:16.8, STAI Y-1:15, STAI Y-2:2.6, abd Beck:8.8.  Results appear to support the efficacy of both EMDR with battered women and the shelter program itself.

Dissertation/Thesis

English

Melissa Nicole Carpenter

Carpenter, M. N. (1999). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in battered women: Alleviation of post-traumatic stress disorder. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses database. (UMI. No. 1394355)