Stress management with law enforcement personnel: A controlled outcome study of EMDR vs. a traditional stress management program

EMDR has been shown to be effective for treating posttraumatic stress disorder, but its efficacy as a stress management tool for normal individuals in highly stressful occupations has not been demonstrated. Sixty-two police officers were randomly assigned to either EMDR or a standard stress management program (SMP), each consisting of 6 hours on individualized contact. At completion, officers in the EMDR condition provided lower ratings on measures of PTSD, subjective distress, job stress, and anger; and higher marital satisfaction ratings than those in the SMP. The effects of EMDR were maintained at the 6-month follow-up, indicating comparatively enduring gains from a relatively brief treatment regimen for this sub-clinical sample of officers who were experiencing some level of stress from their job.

Conference

English

Sandra Wilson
Lee Becker
Robert Tinker
Carol Logan

Wilson, S., Becker, L., Tinker, R., & Logan, C. (2000, November). Stress management with law enforcement personnel: A controlled outcome study of EMDR vs. a traditional stress management program. In B. A. van der Kolk (Chair), Current Research on EMDR. Symposium conducted at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 16th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX