Benefits of “eye movement desensitization and reprocessing” psychotherapy in the treatment of female victims of intimate partner rape

Abstract

Summary This study sought to evaluate the effects of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy, particularly with regard to the reduction of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depressive symptoms, based on the treatment of 6 female participants who had been victims of intimate partner rape. All of the participants completed quantitative measures pretreatment and following each session. The measures used were the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Impact of Events Scale, as well as the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale used in EMDR. Participants were also administered qualitative interviews before and after the treatment in order to assess the presence of PTSD symptoms according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders American Psychiatric Association (APA), 2004 . Outcomes were consistent with our expectations and showed a significant and gradual decrease in scores on the various scales during treatment. As the literature has repeatedly shown, individuals who receive EMDR treatment tend to assess themselves as feeling less and less disturbance as the therapy progresses. We also observed a significant decrease of scores on the various scales following the first two sessions. Finally, the psychological treatment based on EMDR therapy led to an important decrease in the number of PTSD symptoms. This reduction was consistent for the American Psychiatric Association (APA), 2004 criteria under consideration (B, C, & D).