title: A proposal for a conditioning model of eye movement desensitization treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: Although eye movement desensitization (EMD) was introduced as a specific treatment for traumatic memories, a satisfactory explanation of the therapeutic mechanism underlying the method has not been offered. This article describes a model of traumatic memories and EMD based primarily on principles of respondent conditioning, emotional interference with learning, and operant conditioning. A method for evaluating the conditioning model is briefly described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences, University of Central Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dyck
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic / Q000379:methods*; D005133:Eye Movements; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*