EMDR FORUM ARCHIVE, 2000
Re:Scientific Jargon vs. reality
Anonymous · 12/29/02 at 9:43 PM ET
Are you Larry or Lawrence? I agree with you that studies should be judged according to their design/procedures, not their results. Like any other study, judgment calls are inherent to meta-analyses. How to select studies for inclusion, whether/how to weight them, how to interpret/categorize their findings. I also agree that there is no definitive proof that eye movements contribute to EMDR's effect. In fact, I think I just said that in a recent post. However, there is certainly no definitive proof to the contrary either, and given the findings suggestive of such effect in many studies, it would be premature to conclude today that no effect exists. If such an effect exists, and if it is small relative to the overall effect of the package of interventions that make up EMDR, it is unlikely to be detected in the small-n studies that have been conducted so far. The fact that at least some of these studies have detected an effect nonetheless is interesting. Of course, this comment leaves me open to the accusation that I only give credence to the studies that yield the findings that I want! However, since no good large-n study has been conducted yet to study the possible role of eye movements, the main point is that we just can't be sure yet. Another point, speaking for myself at least, is that I don't actually care whether eye movements ultimately prove essential or not. Or even whether EMDR proves superior to the other leading brands (although I admit that I suspect it will). My main interest is in good science informing good practice. And FYI I teach Exposure more often than I teach EMDR. I apologize that I am unable to cite specific studies at the moment, I am in between offices for a couple of weeks and all my stuff is in boxes. However, I think that such citations have been offered in this forum previously.
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