Effect of relaxation training alone and relaxation training paired with EMDR on incarcerated, battered women

Every 15 seconds a woman is beaten in the U.S. Many of these women meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. Some of them end up in prison. This study used a sample of 5 battered women, incarcerated in a Southern state prison, to test the efficacy of EMDR following relaxation training. A-B-C designs were used to compare baseline assessment (Phase A), relaxation training utilizing Miller and Halpern's audiotaped instructions (Phase B), and EMDR (Phase C). A script of the worst memory of abuse was dictated by each woman during assessment and read by the researcher at the beginning of each session. The Beck Anxiety Inventory and Impact of Events Scale, measuring avoidant behaviors and intrusive thoughts, were given weekly, following the script. Client logs and measures of SUDS and VOC were taken during the EMDR phase only. A one-month follow-up was used. ANOVAs with repeated measures comparing 2 groups, E1 (n = 2) that received 3 weeks of relaxation training prior to EMDR and E2 (n = 3) that received 6 weeks of relaxation training prior to EMDR, were not statistically significant. Avoidant Behaviors scores approached significance for the main effect of treatment (F = .06) and for the group by phase interaction (F = .08). Due to intrasubject variability, blocking was used to identify trends. A distinct improvement was noted in Subject 2 -- Anxiety dropped from 36.5 to 8.0, Intrusive Thoughts 27.5 to 11.0, and Avoidant Behaviors 27.0 to 24.0. Individually graphed data and calculated mean scores by phase permit further investigation. Implications for future research include appropriate screening for dissociation and development of coping skills prior to EMDR, decreasing avoidance by having the woman read her script aloud prior to completing outcome measures, monitoring medication during treatment, continuing treatment as needed, using additional outcome measures, and employing a multi-baseline design across subjects, matching women on several demographic variables.

Dissertation/Thesis

English

Sharman Dyan Colosetti

Colosetti, S. D. (1997, December). Effect of relaxation training alone and relaxation training paired with EMDR on incarcerated, battered women. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Georgia)