Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

This work examines the effect of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) on a 51-year-old PTSD patient. Using a multiple baseline design, the author compared EMDR with supportive therapy and a distraction technique. The author used the Impact of Events Scale (IES), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and electromyograph (EMG) readings as treatment measures. The study specifically addresses the eye movement component of EMDR as the crucial element of the intervention.The literature review includes the etiology and treatment of PTSD, an overview of EMDR, and case studies of EMDR in the treatment of PTSD. Along with these topics, the author also examines Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and its possible connection to EMDR. The results of this work indicate that, when compared to expressive interventions and eye fixation, EMDR made the greatest changes in the subject's PTSD symptoms, particularly in the area of intrusive thoughts. The author concludes this work with recommendations pertaining to EMDR and its impact on the future of PTSD treatment.

Dissertation/Thesis

English

Abbey Louise Graves

Graves, A. L. (1994). Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 55(2-B), 592