Unanswered Questions about the Empirical Support for EMDR in the Treatment of PTSD: A review of research

doi:10.1177/153476560300900102

Paper

Unanswered Questions about the Empirical Support for EMDR in the Treatment of PTSD: A review of research

Published Mar 1, 2003 · A. Rubin

Traumatology

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Abstract

A literature review was conducted to examine whether EMDR should be considered an empirically-supported treatment for PTSD. Relying largely but not exclusively on electronic data bases such as Medline and PsychInfo, journal articles published through April 2003 were identified which reported a randomized experimental evaluation of the effectiveness of EMDR in treating PTSD. EMDR appears to be an empirically supported treatment for adults with single-trauma civilian PTSD. However, the evidence supporting the effectiveness of EMDR is much less compelling when we focus on children, combat PTSD, multiple-trauma PTSD, and whether EMDR is more effective than exposure therapies. Proponents of EMDR hotly debate proponents of exposure therapy regarding methodological issues, with each side in the debate frequently employing a double standard. Clinicians are advised to use either EMDR, exposure therapy, or stress-inoculation therapy when treating civilian adults with single-trauma PTSD. They may also want to employ...

Systematic Review

Study Snapshot

EMDR is an empirically supported treatment for adults with single-trauma civilian PTSD, but less convincing for children, combat PTSD, multiple-trauma PTSD, and its effectiveness compared to exposure therapies.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

Unanswered Questions about the Empirical Support for EMDR in the Treatment of PTSD: A review of research

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