Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for combat PTSD

4 Vietnam veterans diagnosed with PTSD were treated with 12 sessions of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), targeting their combat memories. An extensive multimodal assessment battery showed very substantial clinical improvement for 3 of the veterans along a number of psychological dimensions that characterize the disorder, but not along several physiological parameters. A fourth veteran showed only very modest changes. The results are discussed in terms of the importance of several issues, including numbers of treatment sessions and differential effects of treatment on cognitive-behavioral and physiological symptoms.

Journal

English

John Carlson
Claude Chemtob
Kristin Rusnak
Nancy Hedlund

Carlson, J., Chemtob, C., Rusnak, K., & Hedlund, N. (1996, Spring). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for combat PTSD. Psychotherapy, 33(1), 104-113. doi:10.1037/0033-3204.33.1.104