Effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy versus Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP) in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Though the efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and cognitive behavioral approaches for PTSD have been sufficiently demonstrated, few studies have compared them directly. The current study aims at studying the effectiveness of EMDR and Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP) to determine if these treatments work in clinical practice.



Research objectives are:

1. To compare the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP) in the treatment of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder;

2. To determine the effectiveness of the treatments at long-term follow up;

3. To determine the effects of the treatments on neuropsychological functioning;

4. To determine the effects of the treatments on neuroendocrine parameters in a subgroup of patients;

5. To determine which patients benefit most from EMDR or BEP.

In line with a previous pilot study, we hypothesize that EMDR will lead to faster improvements in PTSD symptomatology than BEP and that the effects at the end will be equal.

Patients are assessed at four time points:

1. Before treatment;

2. First post-assessment after the EMDR therapy and the first phase of BEP;

3. Second post-assessment after both treatments are finished;

4. Follow-up assessment 12 months after the second post-assessment.



1-feb-2009: Patient inclusion closed;

Anticipated date of last follow-up 1-dec-2010;

Planned closure to data entry 1-jan-2011;

Date trial data considered complete 1-jan-2011.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a combination of trauma exposure (desensitization) with saccadic eye movements. When anxiety diminishes, the patient is instructed to develop more positive cognitions and link these to the trauma.

Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP) is primarily a cognitive behavioral intervention, but ‘eclectic’ means that elements of psychodynamic and directive psychotherapy are also part of this therapy.