EMDR versus brief eclectic psychotherapy in the treatment of PTSD: A randomized clinical trial

A large number of studies have demonstrated the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and metaanalyses have shown similar effect sizes for both treatment conditions. However, less is known about the effectiveness of these treatments in routine clinical care. Therefore, we conducted a randomized clinical trial that compared EMDR (n = 70) to a form of CBT, Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP; n = 70). Treatment conditions resembled routine care as much as possible. Participants were outpatients who were referred to the Center for Psychological Trauma of the Academic Medical Center with a diagnosis of PTSD after various kinds of type I trauma. Primary outcome was PTSD symptomatology as measured by the Impact of Event Scale – Revised. Other measures that were applied to assess pre-post differences were the Structured Interview for PTSD, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders, MOS Short Form -36, and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Preliminary analyses indicate a significant decrease in PTSD symptomatology for both treatment conditions, with an earlier decrease of symptoms in EMDR compared to BEP. Results of the complete trial will be presented and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

Conference

English

Mirjam J. Nijdam
Miranda Olff
Berthold Gersons

Nijdam, M, J., Olff, M., & Gersons, B. (2009, November). EMDR versus brief eclectic psychotherapy in the treatment of PTSD: A randomized clinical trial. In Advances in evidence-based treatment for PTSD (M. Olff, J. J. Ter Heide, M. J. Nijdam, & S. Guay, Chairs). Symposium conducted at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 25th Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA. doi:10.1037/e517292011-162