Efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing procedure in the treatment of traumatic memories: A replication study

The purpose of this replication study was either to support or refute the original Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing research conducted by Shapiro. The present study was amended with two additional indices to assess anxiety and social functioning.14 subjects suffering long standing (one or more years) traumatic memory symptomatology, concerning rape, physical abuse, incest, and childhood sexual molestation, were randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions. Traumatic memories were pivotal to presenting symptoms, which included panic attacks, self-blaming/guilt, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, nightmares, insomnia and avoidant thinking/behavior. All subjects were diagnosed with PTSD, by an independent licensed clinical psychologist. There were 13 females and 1 male. The male subject was in the Control Group. Age range was from 25 to 49 years with a Mean age of 38.64 years. Range for age of traumatic event was five to 19 years of age, with a Mean age of 10.14 years. Range for duration of the subjects' symptoms since traumatic event was 18 to 44 years with a Mean age of 28.5 years. Dependent variables were (1) anxiety level, (2) validity of a positive self-statement/assessment of the traumatic incident, (3) primary presenting symptom and (4) social adjustment. Measures utilized were the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS), the Validity of Cognition (VoC) self evaluation, primary presenting symptom self report, the Impact of Event Scale (IES), and the Social Adjustment-Self Report (SAS-SR). Initial measures demonstrated that all subjects were essentially the same prior to any treatment. Measures were obtained at the initial session and at 1- and 3-month follow-up sessions. Where applicable the analyses conducted paralleled those used in the original research. The results of the study indicated that a single session of EMDR successfully desensitized the subjects' traumatic memory, significantly mediated their cognitive assessment of the situation, as well as their social adjustment. Treatment effects were maintained over the period of the study for all subjects. These findings support the original conclusions in Shapiro's seminal study of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing procedure. The exact neurological mechanisms involved in the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing procedure remain unknown.

Dissertation/Thesis

English

Leslie Harvery Daroff

Daroff, L. H. (1996, December). Efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing procedure in the treatment of traumatic memories: A replication study. (Doctoral dissertation, Temple University)