EMDR Forum Archive, 1999
Re: EMDR and the Evidence
Ricky Greenwald · 2/10/00 at 3:50 am ET
EMDR has gained such rapid acceptance for two main reasons: EMDR remains controversial because: Regarding the role of eye movements, the studies to date have not been adequate to either prove or disprove the presence or absence of treatment effect. It would be premature to proclaim otherwise, in either direction. It should also be noted that EMDR is much more than exposure plus eye movements; it is a rather complex package and sequence of interventions.
1) because of the numerous experiences of individuals (clients as well as clinicians) who find that it works, sometimes extraordinarily well, and often when other methods had not helped enough; and
2) because of the large number of controlled and semi-controlled studies supporting EMDR versus waitlist and versus alternate treatment groups. When EMDR is done properly, it consistently matches or out-performs other trauma treatments. Both the American Psychological Association's Committee on Empirically Validated Treatments and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies' Treatment Guidelines positive reviews of EMDR attest to the substantial body of supportive scientific evidence.
1) it is still relatively new and strange-sounding; and
2) there is a small cadre of academics who publish very scientific-sounding reviews which say that EMDR is phony. Although these reviews are typically based on ridicule, distortion of scientific principles, and selective neglect of the literature, many who read these reviews and who don't know the literature first-hand may have little reason to doubt their conclusions.
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