Treating phobic children: effects of EMDR versus exposure.
This study examined the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and exposure in the treatment of a specific phobia. Twenty-six spider phobic children were treated during 2 treatment phases. During the first phase, which lasted 2.5 hr, children were randomly assigned to either (a) an EMDR group (n = 9), (b) an exposure in vivo group (n = 9), or (c) a computerized exposure (control) group (n = 8). During the 2nd phase, all groups received a 1.5-hr session of exposure in vivo. Therapy outcome measures (i.e., self-reported fear and behavioral avoidance) were obtained before treatment, after Treatment Phase 1, and after Treatment Phase 2. Results showed that the 2.5-hr exposure in vivo session produced significant improvement on all outcome measures. In contrast, EMDR yielded a significant improvement on only self-reported spider fear. Computerized exposure produced nonsignificant improvement. Furthermore, no evidence was found to suggest that EMDR potentiates the efficacy of a subsequent exposure in vivo treatment. Exposure in vivo remains the treatment of choice for childhood spider phobia.
Muris
P
P
Department of Psychology, Universiteit Maastricht, The Netherlands. P.Muris@Psychology.unimaas.nl
Merckelbach
H
H
Holdrinet
I
I
Sijsenaar
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic; D005133:Eye Movements; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome