Efficacy of “eye movement desensitization and reprocessing” in reducing anxiety and unpleasant feelings due to earthquake experience

This randomized clinical trial investigated the efficacy of EMDR therapy in reducing earthquake anxiety as compared to a wait-list control.

Article Abstract

“To investigate the efficacy of “eye movement desensitization and reprocessing” (EMDR) in reducing earthquake anxiety and negative feelings resulting from earthquake experience, 41 persons who underwent the stress of the earthquake in Bam, were selected and randomly assigned to experimental and waiting-list control conditions. Participants in the experimental condition participated in 4 sessions of EMDR using a software program, and were multiply assessed before, after and at a one month follow up. Results of the comparison between the experimental and control group and the comparison of pretreatment and post treatment measures indicated that, EMDR is effective in reducing earthquake anxiety and negative emotions (e.g. PTSD, grief, fear, intrusive thoughts, depression, etc) resulting from earthquake experience. Furthermore, results show that, improvement due to EMDR was maintained at a one month follow up. Also, the use of EMDR in the waiting-list control group indicated that this technique is effective in reducing earthquake anxiety and negative emotions resulting from earthquake experience. These findings are consistent with the findings from many other studies on efficiency and efficacy of EMDR in treatment of anxiety, phobia, PTSD, grief, and other unpleasant feelings resulting from traumatic experience. Furthermore, the findings show that, clinical practitioners can successfully use a software, such as the one employed in this study, for the EMDR treatment, even in a group format.”

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Abbasnejad, M., Mahani, K. N., & Zamyad, A. (2007). Efficacy of “eye movement desensitization and reprocessing” in reducing anxiety and unpleasant feelings due to earthquake experience. Psychological Research, 9(3-4), 104-117. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2007-11082-006