ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In recent years, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has spread, in both the number of publications and professionals who use this technique in the clinical setting. The objective of this meta-analysis was to verify the efficacy of EMDR in treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. METHOD: Based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 18 articles were selected ( n = 1213 subjects), published between 1991-2022. RESULTS: The effect sizes found in the meta-analysis were small in the reduction of symptoms associated with PTSD, anxiety and depression, both in post-treatment and in maintenance. The analysis of the moderating variables revealed that both intervention time, the number and duration of the sessions, the experience of the therapist, and the type of therapist in charge of the intervention play an important role in the size of the final effect. No statistically significant data were found in the meta-regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study had restrictive criteria for study selection, there is a certain risk of bias in the selected articles, which lack sufficient methodological quality to be extrapolated to the clinical field.
Subject(s)
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Humans , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/therapy , Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing/methods , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Anxiety , Anxiety Disorders , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Background: In recent years, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has spread, in both the number of publications and professionals who use this technique in the clinical setting. The objective of this meta-analysis was to verify the efficacy of EMDR in treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Method: Based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 18 articles were selected (n = 1213 subjects), published between 1991-2022. Results: The effect sizes found in the meta-analysis were small in the reduction of symptoms associated with PTSD, anxiety and depression, both in post-treatment and in maintenance. The analysis of the moderating variables revealed that both intervention time, the number and duration of the sessions, the experience of the therapist, and the type of therapist in charge of the intervention play an important role in the size of the final effect. No statistically significant data were found in the meta-regression analysis. Conclusions: Although the study had restrictive criteria for study selection, there is a certain risk of bias in the selected articles, which lack sufficient methodological quality to be extrapolated to the clinical field.(AU)
Antecedentes: En los últimos años la desensibilización y reprocesamiento por movimientos oculares (EMDR) se está extendiendo tanto en su número de publicaciones como de profesionales que utilizan esta técnica en el ámbito clínico. El presente meta-análisis tiene como objetivo comprobar la eficacia del EMDR en el tratamiento del trastorno de estrés post-traumático. Método: A partir de los criterios de inclusión/exclusión fueron seleccionados 18 artículos (n = 1213 sujetos), entre los años 1991-2022. Resultados: Los tamaños del efecto hallados en el meta-análisis fueron pequeños en la reducción de síntomas asociados al TEPT, ansiosos y depresivos, tanto en el pos-tratamiento como en el mantenimiento. El análisis de las variables moderadoras reveló que el tiempo de intervención, el número y la duración de las sesiones, la veteranía del terapeuta y el tipo de terapeuta encargado de la intervención juegan un papel importante en el tamaño del efecto final. No se encontraron datos estadísticamente significativos en el análisis de la metarregresión. Conclusiones: Sin embargo, aunque el estudio cuenta con criterios restrictivos en cuanto a la selección de los estudios, existe cierto riesgo de sesgo en los artículos seleccionados que carecen de una calidad metodológica suficiente para ser extrapolados al ámbito clínico.(AU)
