title: [Summary: Scientific evaluation of EMDR psychotherapy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The evaluation of psychotherapy methods is made difficult by their practical and theoretical diversities as well as the increasing number of available therapies. Evaluation based on scientific criteria in randomized control trials is providing the highest level of proof and recognition by Health Agencies. A recently described integrative psychotherapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), developed by F. Shapiro since 1989, has been confronted with the validation procedure used in pharmacological treatment. It was of interest to review the scientific validation steps carried out for this EMDR psychotherapy and for its mechanisms of action.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The practical and methodological protocol of the EMDR psychotherapy for trauma integration is reviewed as well as clinical results and mechanisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This EMDR therapy, focused on the resolutions of traumas, was started by treating patients with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). The integrative EMDR protocol obtained the highest level of efficiency, for PTSD treatment, twenty years after its first publication. The efficiency of the protocol is now under study and scientific evaluation for troubles in which the trauma experiences are triggers or factors of maintenance of the troubles: anxiety, depression, phobia, sexual troubles, schizophrenia, etc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new integrative psychotherapy follows the pathways and the timing observed for the evaluation and the validation of other therapies.
authors.affiliation: Association EMDR France, 30, place Saint-Georges, 75009 Paris, France. Electronic address: fhaour@gmail.com.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haour
authors.affiliation: EPS de Maison-Blanche, 6-10, rue Pierre-Bayle, 75020 Paris, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Beaurepaire
mesh_terms: D057169:Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Cognitive and behavioural therapies; EMDR; Essais contrôlés randomisés; Psychotherapies; Psychothérapie; Randomized control trials; Thérapies cognitivo-comportementales; Trauma; Traumatisme; Évaluation scientifique