Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:20, 27 May 2025

Revision as of 00:22, 27 May 2025

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EMDR is recommended for the treatment of PTSD by various government and medical bodies citing varying levels of evidence, including the [[World Health Organization]], the UK [[National Institute for Health and Care Excellence]], the Australian [[National Health and Medical Research Council]], and the US Departments of [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|Veterans Affairs]] and [[United States Department of Defense|Defense]]. The [[American Psychological Association]] does not endorse EMDR as a first-line treatment, but indicates that it is probably effective for treating adult PTSD.

Systematic analyses published since 2013 generally indicate that EMDR treatment efficacy for adults with PTSD is equivalent to trauma-focused cognitive and behavioral therapies (TF-CBT), such as [[Prolongedprolonged exposure therapy]] (PE) and [[Cognitivecognitive Processingprocessing Therapytherapy]] (CPT). However, bilateral stimulation does not contribute substantially, if at all, to treatment effectiveness. The predominant therapeutic factors in EMDR and TF-CBT are [[Exposure therapy|exposure]] and various components of [[cognitive-behavioral therapy]].

Because eye movements and other bilateral stimulation techniques do not uniquely contribute to EMDR treatment efficacy, EMDR has been characterized as a [[purple hat therapy]], i.e., its effectiveness is due to the same therapeutic methods found in other evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD, namely exposure therapy and CBT techniques, without any contribution from its distinctive add-ons.