I've been enjoying our recent discussion of that staggeringly stupid yet commercially successful treatment, "Brain Gym", to which we were alerted by Chris Green. Coincidentally, clearing off my desk today, I came across a note from Chris on another silly treatment way back in 2007. I had intended to respond, but never did (actually, I had probably intended a letter-to-the-editor of the journal in question but never got around to that either).
Chris had referred us to a blog commenting on a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry on EMDR, that finger-waggling therapy. The study purported to validate the therapy in a placebo-controlled, randomized study (the kind we value so highly). The blogger was impressed. Here's what Chris said: >[tips] Shifting eye therapy successfully treats trauma >Christopher D. Green >Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:08:11 -0700 >I am truly astonished by this result (to the point that I will continue >to disbelieve it until it is replicated a few dozen times). Early on >there was lots of research showing that EMDR had no effect, and now, >suddenly, the results have turned around? >http://www.mindhacks.com/blog/2007/07/shifting_eye_therapy.html Chris was right to be sceptical. If you examine the details of the study, it turns out that the overall ANCOVA of the three conditions (before- after, EMDR vs Prozac vs placebo) was not significant. Nor was a planned comparison of EMDR vs placebo. Conclusion: EMDR was not found to be better than placebo. Big surprise. Will you find these results and that conclusion anywhere in the abstract? Not a chance. What it does say is "This study supports the efficacy of brief EMDR treatment to produce substantial and sustained reduction of PTSD and depression". Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
