Efficiency of the basic EMDR protocol compared to a resource protocol (the peak performance protocol), role of eye movements

This study received the support of the French EMDR Association: Emmanuelle Dobbelaere received a grant for her thesis. The basic EMDR protocol and the peak performance protocol created by Foster and Lendl, enriched with positive psychology (2012) were used to help a population of students and athletes to face future anxiety-inducing challenges. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of both protocols in reducing performance anxiety and to determine whether eye movements are requested or not in resource installation. To our knowledge, this study is the first randomized trial to compare EMDR basic protocol to the peak performance protocol (which is a kind of resource installation protocol) created by Sandra Foster and Jenifer Lendl. The study is a randomized study to assess a one shot intervention, i.e. a unique session, to prepare students to future stressful exams or competitions. This research assesses the efficiency of eye movements in a resource protocol (the peak performance protocol). Leeds, who created the Resource and development installation (RDI) protocol (2002, 2012), doesn't question the efficiency of eye movements (EMs) in resourcing. On the contrary, Hornsveld & al. concluded that Eye Movements are not necessary for resource development (2011, 2012). Contrary to Hornsveld's and al. 2011 research, the present study assessed in a practical context, a real session, not a in research setting disconnected from a real future event to deal with, the efficiency of eye movements in resource installation. The assessment of the role of eye movements in resource installation will help to determine whether they have to be tought in EMDR trainings or not. Design, setting and participants: A randomized controlled trial of students (n=60), most of them professional athletes. Participants are randomly assigned to receive only one session of the EMDR basic protocol, or the EMDR and positive psychology peak performance protocol with eye movements, or the positive psychology peak performance protocol without eye movements. The control group will be a no-treatment group, the participants only reply to questionnaires through Internet. Measurements: the SUDs, the VOC, the well-being (SOS-10), the self-esteem (Rosenberg scale), the goal attainment, are assessed. The data are collected before and just after the sessions and at a two-month follow-up. Preliminary Results: the basic EMDR protocol and the EMDR and positive psychology peak performance protocol with eye movements have already been assessed. Statistically significant improvements are observed in both protocols, they reduce and even eliminate the negative emotions and cognitions related to a stressful upcoming event: SUDs decreased and VOC increased in both groups and these results were maintained two months after. Both procedures helped them to achieve their goals: to pass their exams or competitions. Well-being and self-esteem were improved just after the sessions in both groups but after two months the improvement was not maintained. In terms of efficiency, the peak performance protocol is reducing the length of the sessions (75 minutes versus 97 minutes for the standard protocol). The evaluation of the peak performance protocol without eye movement is ongoing.

Conference

English

Emmanuelle Dobbelaere

Dobbelaere, E. (2016, June).  Efficiency of the basic EMDR protocol compared to a resource protocol (the peak performance protocol), role of eye movements. In Research track (Leonieke Kranenburg, Chair). Presentation at the at the 17th EMDR Europe Association Conference, The Hague