Re:Merry Christmas to all!

It is truly frightening to read this statement from a Ph.D. Please do not equate EMDR with treatments such as ECT or even the newer vagus nerve stimlulation or transcranial magnetic treatments which some have embraced as the "neural chaos" paradigm wherein we cannot fathom something as complex as human thought. Simply put, EMDR "training" is veiled in secrecy, unlike CBT or Interpersonal therapy which are openly desiminated so all can use them. A look through past posting shows a flagrant disregard for methodological and statistical gymnastics that would be obvious confirmatory bias even to freshmen newly enrolled at a junior college.

I must admit I have had patients who were so non-responsive to all modes of treatments (therapy, ECT, vagus nerves etc.)that I considered calling one of the local EMDR therapists to try their best. I ponder the possible effect of the mesh of certain personality characteristics and possible massive Hawthorne effects or even the balder placebo effects -- meaning that some people may unconsciously or even consciously remit their symptoms because of the "size" of the intervention. The data do not even bear this flimsy and hopeful hypothesis out in any way.

I, too sometimes think that ECT just works and we don't know why and that's ok because we are dealing with the human brain and its emergent properties. But ECT's intent and methodology is not kept under wraps like words from a undercoat. Lilienfield's posit that EMDR is Junk Science, given the data and the operational definition of junk science is borne out.

If EMDR is so effective, advertise and televise its methodology. No need for Dr. Phil to be the only one who reaps the benefits of ineffectual therapy techniques. I' sure (hope?) that others have mirrored this obvious haver and that I am being redundant.

Replies:

There are no replies to this message.

| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |

Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.