Thesis
Is EMDR more effective than wait list control and treatment as usual with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms? A meta- analysis (Bachelor’s thesis).
(2019)
Abstract
The goal of my thesis was to replicate Chen et al. (2014) and to extend the study by comparing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to Wait List Control (WLC) and
Treatment as Usual (TAU) conditions. Effect size estimations for reduction in Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomatology was used to compare the effectiveness of the treatment
and comparison conditions. A total of 34 studies were included in this meta-analysis. These
studies included at least a PTSD outcome measure along with other outcome measures (i.e.,
depression outcome measures, anxiety outcome measures, or subjective distress outcome
measures). Relevant time point posttest means and standard deviations were used to calculate
Hedges’s g using a random effects model. Favorable results were interpreted as a decrease in
PTSD symptomatology. Significant results were reported for EMDR versus WLC on PTSD
outcomes (g = -0.349, p < .001; 95% CI [-0.689 and -0.0089]) and EMDR versus TAU on PTSD
outcomes (g = -0.349, p < .05; 95% CI [-0.689 and -0.0089]). Both hypotheses were supported as
EMDR was more effective at reducing PTSD symptomatology than both WLC and TAU.
Limitations of this study included variations in the outcome measures in the 26 studies from
Chen et al. (2014) and variations in effect size calculations because not every study reported
means and standard deviations. The results of this study should not be generalized beyond the
populations included in the selected studies in randomized controlled trial settings. Future
research should focus on the efficacy of EMDR versus individual empirically-supported
therapies, the effectiveness of EMDR with certain age groups, and the dose-response
effectiveness of EMDR with different numbers of treatment sessions.
Keywords
- posttraumatic stress disorder,
- randomized controlled trial,
- eye movement desensitization and reprocessing,
- meta-analysis
Disciplines
Publication Date
December 15, 2019
Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Field of study
Psychology
Department
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Advisor
Reed M. Mueller, Ph.D.
Citation Information
Joe Denniston. "Is EMDR more effective than wait list control and treatment as usual with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms? A meta- analysis (Bachelor’s thesis)." (2019) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/r-mueller/63/