EMDR treatment of combat-related guilt: A study of the effects of eye movements

This purpose of this study was to investigate the role of eye movements in EMDR, and to test the efficacy of EMDR in the treatment of guilt associated with combat-trauma. A single-case multiple component cross-over design across seven participants was utilized in this study. Volunteer participants were recruited from the Coatesville VA Medical Center PTSD Treatment Program in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Following pre-treatment assessment, participants were exposed to an EMDR treatment and a Non-Eye Movement analog intervention. To control for order effects, four participants were introduced first to the EMDR condition and three participants were introduced to the Non-Eye Movement analog condition. Each participant was exposed to both conditions. Dependent variables included: measures of PTSD symptomatology and guilt (CAPS-SX, BDI, IES, TRGI); self-monitoring data on the frequency and intensity of intrusive thoughts, disturbing dreams, and guilt feelings; and pre-and post-treatment and within-sessions measures of the participants’ subjective level of distress (SUDS ratings). The results showed significant decreases in SUDS levels, PTSD symptomatology, and guilt at post-treatment assessment. Visual inspection of SUDS data revealed that EMDR resulted in greater within-session decreases in SUDS levels that the Non-Eye Movement analog condition.

Conference

English

Melanie R. Cerone

Cerone, M. R. (2000, November). EMDR treatment of combat-related guilt: A study of the effects of eye movements. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 16th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX