title: Treatment fidelity and research on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
abstract: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing was introduced by Frances Shapiro (1989) as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder. When controlled studies failed to support the extraordinarily positive findings and claims made by Shapiro, proponents of EMDR raised the issue of treatment fidelity and criticized researchers for being inadequately trained. This paper considers the issues raised by EMDR proponents. It is concluded that treatment fidelity has been used as a specious, distracting issue that permits the continued promotion of EMDR in the face of negative empirical findings. Clinical psychologists are urged to remember the basic tenets of science when evaluating extraordinary claims made for novel techniques.
authors.affiliation: grosen@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D012438:Saccades; D012586:Science / Q000592:standards