On Mon, 21 Feb 2000, Jeffrey Nagelbush wrote:
> According to the article below, APA has approved EMDR Therapy. I was
> wondering how strong the evidence for its effectiveness really is. Any info?
If true, that is bad news for our declared aim of getting and keeping
the pseudoscience out of psychology. EMDR has all the earmarks of
quack therapy, including a loopy theory and devoted followers. A
pertinent recent review is Lohr et al (1998). They note:
"The research we review shows that (a) the effects of EMDR are limited
largely or entirely to verbal report indices, (b) eye movements appear
to be unnecessary for improvement, and c) reported effects are
consistent with non-specific procedural artifacts. Moreover, the
conceptual analysis of EMDR is inconsistent with scientific findings
concerning the role of eye movements".
The new study in the Journal of Traumatic Stress enthusiastically
mentioned in the report which Jeff appended, although poorly
identified, appears to be Schenck, Schaeffer, and Gillette. Lohr et
al include it in their review, and they are not impressed. In
particular, they note the use of verbal measures of improvement only.
-Stephen
Reference
Lohr, J., et al (1998). Efficacy of eye movement desensitization
and reprocessing: implications for behavior therapy. Behavior
Therapy, 29, 123-156.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470
Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661
Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Lennoxville, QC
J1M 1Z7
Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy
Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at:
http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/southerly/tips/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
