Commentary: “Cognitive behavioral therapy vs. eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for treating panic disorder: A randomized controlled trial”

We read with interest the article written by Horst et al. (2017) exploring whether or not Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be considered to be as effective a treatment method as Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) for patients with Panic Disorder (PD). Using the Agoraphobic Cognition Questionnaire (ACQ), the Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life short version (WHOQOL-Bref) as measures, the authors did not find EMDR inferior to CBT in the following actions: reducing anxiety related cognitions, alleviating the fear of bodily sensations, and improving most aspects of the quality of life. The authors considered their results inconclusive with regard to agoraphobic avoidance as measured through the use of the Mobility Inventory (MI). Based on these results, the authors confirmed “EMDR therapy proved to be as effective as CBT for treating PD patients.” Although the study is interesting, we think that the above-quoted conclusion is inappropriate and overstated because of two main methodological reasons. [Excerpt]

Journal

English

Giampaolo R. Perna
Erika Sangiorgio
Massimiliano Grassi
Daniela Caldirola

Perna, G. R., Sangiorgio, E., Grassi, M., & Caldirola, D.  (2018). Commentary: “Cognitive behavioral therapy vs. eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for treating panic disorder: A randomized controlled trial." Frontiers in Psychology. doi:0.3389/fpsyg.2018.01061