[[Systematic review|Systematic reviews]] in 2013, including a [[Cochrane (organisation)|Cochrane]] study comparing EMDR with other psychotherapies in the treatment of chronic PTSD found EMDR to be as effective as TF-CBT (trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapies).<ref name="Watt2013">{{cite journal | vauthors = Watts BV, Schnurr PP, Mayo L, Young-Xu Y, Weeks WB, Friedman MJ | title = Meta-analysis of the efficacy of treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder | journal = The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry | volume = 74 | issue = 6 | pages = e541–e550 | date = June 2013 | pmid = 23842024 | doi = 10.4088/JCP.12r08225 | s2cid = 23087402 }}</ref><ref name="Bisson2013">{{cite journal | vauthors = Bisson JI, Roberts NP, Andrew M, Cooper R, Lewis C | title = Psychological therapies for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 2013 | issue = 12 | page = CD003388 | date = December 2013 | pmid = 24338345 | pmc = 6991463 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD003388.pub4 }}</ref> A 2018 systematic review found moderate strength of evidence supporting the effectiveness of EMDR in reducing symptoms of PTSD and depression, as well as increasing the likelihood of patients losing their PTSD diagnosis.<ref>{{Cite report |url= https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/topicsproducts/ptsd-adult-treatment-update/research-2018 |title=Psychological and Pharmacological Treatments for Adults With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review Update |last1=Forman-Hoffman |first1=Valerie |last2=Cook Middleton |first2=Jennifer |date=2018-05-17 |publisher=Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) |doi=10.23970/ahrqepccer207 |last3=Feltner |first3=Cynthia |last4=Gaynes |first4=Bradley N. |last5=Palmieri Weber |first5=Rachel |last6=Bann |first6=Carla |last7=Viswanathan |first7=Meera |last8=Lohr |first8=Kathleen N. |last9=Baker |first9=Claire}}</ref> A 2020 systematic review concluded: "A recent increase in RCTs [randomized controlled trials] of psychological therapies for PTSD, results in a more confident recommendation of CBT-T and EMDR as the first-line treatments."<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lewis |first1=Catrin |last2=Roberts |first2=Neil P. |last3=Andrew |first3=Martin |last4=Starling |first4=Elise |last5=Bisson |first5=Jonathan I. |date=2020-12-31 |title=Psychological therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=European Journal of Psychotraumatology |language=en |volume=11 |issue=1 |doi=10.1080/20008198.2020.1729633 |issn=2000-8066 |pmc=7144187 |pmid=32284821}}</ref> A 2023 Cochrane systematic review analyzed psychosocial interventions for survivors of rape and sexual assault experienced during adulthood and concluded that EMDR is a "first-line treatment" for PTSD along with other trauma-focused psychotherapies, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=O'Doherty |first1=Lorna |last2=Whelan |first2=Maxine |last3=Carter |first3=Grace J. |last4=Brown |first4=Katherine |last5=Tarzia |first5=Laura |last6=Hegarty |first6=Kelsey |last7=Feder |first7=Gene |last8=Brown |first8=Sarah J. |date=2023-10-05 |title=Psychosocial interventions for survivors of rape and sexual assault experienced during adulthood |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=2023 |issue=10 |pages=CD013456 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD013456.pub2 |issn=1469-493X |pmc=10552071 |pmid=37795783}}</ref>
