Controlled study of treatment of PTSD using EMDR in an HMO setting

Sixty-seven individuals diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were randomly assigned to either Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment or Standard Care (SC) treatment. Participants were assessed pretreatment, after three sessions, and at the completion of treatment using the Symptom Checklist-90, Beck Depression Inventory, Impact of Events Scale, Modified PTSD Scale, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Subjective Units of Disturbance. In addition, an independent evaluator assessed participants using DSM-III-R criteria for PTSD including Global Assessment of Functioning at the three data points. The individuals in the EMDR treatment group showed significantly greater improvement with greater rapidity than those in the SC treatment group on measures of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and general symptoms. Participants who received EMDR treatment used fewer medication appointments for their psychological symptoms and needed fewer psychotherapy appointments.