Brief eclectic psychotherapy v. eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) are efficacious treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but few studies have directly compared them using well-powered designs and few have investigated response patterns.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy and response pattern of a trauma-focused CBT modality, brief eclectic psychotherapy for PTSD, with EMDR (trial registration: ISRCTN64872147).


METHODS
Out-patients with PTSD were randomly assigned to brief eclectic psychotherapy (n = 70) or EMDR (n = 70) and assessed at all sessions on self-reported PTSD (Impact of Event Scale - Revised). Other outcomes were clinician-rated PTSD, anxiety and depression.


RESULTS
Both treatments were equally effective in reducing PTSD symptom severity, but the response pattern indicated that EMDR led to a significantly sharper decline in PTSD symptoms than brief eclectic psychotherapy, with similar drop-out rates (EMDR: n = 20 (29%), brief eclectic psychotherapy: n = 25 (36%)). Other outcome measures confirmed this pattern of results.


CONCLUSIONS
Although both treatments are effective, EMDR results in a faster recovery compared with the more gradual improvement with brief eclectic psychotherapy.
Centre for Psychological Trauma, Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Centre at University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.j.nijdam@amc.uva.nl
Mirjam J
MJ
Nijdam
Berthold P R
BP
Gersons
Johannes B
JB
Reitsma
Ad
A
de Jongh
Miranda
M
Olff
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D057169:Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult