Feasibility and efficacy of addiction-focused eye movement desensitization reprocessing in adults with substance use disorder
Description
Purpose
Addiction-focused eye movement desensitization reprocessing (AF-EMDR) is a viable add-on therapy to treat memories that drive addiction cravings. However, little research has explored AF-EMDR and its effects in people with substance abuse disorder (SUD). The purposes of this study were to determine the feasibility of conducting AF-EMDR and to test the preliminary efficacy of AF-EMDR on overall cravings experienced by persons with SUD, craving, perseverations associated with addiction, and irrational cognitions related to addiction.
Methods
This pilot study used a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) design with an experimental group (AF-EMDR + cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]) and a control group (CBT Only). Thirty participants were recruited from a residential program or a partial hospitalization program in a recovery center in Florida, from October 2021 through January 2022 and randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15).
Results
All participants adhered to the four-session 60-min AF-EMDR intervention and post-intervention data collection; 98.33% completed all four sessions. Results indicated significant reductions in cravings, perseverative thoughts about substance of choice, and irrational cognitions among participants in both the experimental (AF-EMDR + CBT) and control (CBT Only) groups during the intervention; however, there was no significant difference between groups.
Conclusions
The results showed positive trends in decreasing craving. However, more clinical trials with a larger sample are necessary to assess the efficacy and sustainability of such effects in persons with SUD.
Addiction-focused eye movement desensitization reprocessing (AF-EMDR) is a viable add-on therapy to treat memories that drive addiction cravings. However, little research has explored AF-EMDR and its effects in people with substance abuse disorder (SUD). The purposes of this study were to determine the feasibility of conducting AF-EMDR and to test the preliminary efficacy of AF-EMDR on overall cravings experienced by persons with SUD, craving, perseverations associated with addiction, and irrational cognitions related to addiction.
Methods
This pilot study used a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) design with an experimental group (AF-EMDR + cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]) and a control group (CBT Only). Thirty participants were recruited from a residential program or a partial hospitalization program in a recovery center in Florida, from October 2021 through January 2022 and randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15).
Results
All participants adhered to the four-session 60-min AF-EMDR intervention and post-intervention data collection; 98.33% completed all four sessions. Results indicated significant reductions in cravings, perseverative thoughts about substance of choice, and irrational cognitions among participants in both the experimental (AF-EMDR + CBT) and control (CBT Only) groups during the intervention; however, there was no significant difference between groups.
Conclusions
The results showed positive trends in decreasing craving. However, more clinical trials with a larger sample are necessary to assess the efficacy and sustainability of such effects in persons with SUD.
Format
Journal
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Woodruff, E., Park, J., Howard, H., Gonzalez, M., & Jaber, T. (2023). Feasibility and efficacy of addiction-focused eye movement fesensitization reprocessing in adults with substance use disorder. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work. doi:10.1080/26408066.20273.2271927
Citation
“Feasibility and efficacy of addiction-focused eye movement desensitization reprocessing in adults with substance use disorder,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 12, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/28485.