The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in reducing pathological worry in patients with generalized anxiety disorder: a preliminary study
| 1 | Department of Psychology, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran |
| 2 | Department of Psychology, Alameh Tabatabaee University, Tehran, Iran |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Shiva Dowlatabadi
Department of Psychology, Alameh Tabatabaee University, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Azad University of Roudehen Branch, Roudehen, 1645865743 Tehran, Iran
Department of Psychology, Alameh Tabatabaee University, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Azad University of Roudehen Branch, Roudehen, 1645865743 Tehran, Iran
Submission date: 2014-11-26
Final revision date: 2015-02-17
Acceptance date: 2015-02-24
Publication date: 2015-03-23
Arch Psych Psych 2015;17(1):33–43
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Aim of the study:
The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in reducing pathological worry in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Subject or material and methods:
Method. Three women with GAD were selected using a purposeful sampling method based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID-I). A baseline single-case experimental design was used and participants were included in the treatment in a stepped manner. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GADQ-IV), the Pennsylvania State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), the Worry Domain Questionnaire (WDQ), the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS) and the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (CAQ) were used as the baseline, pre-treatment, post-treatment and one-month followup assessments.
Results:
Results. The results showed that EMDR is effective in reducing pathological worry in patients with GAD. The participants were also successful in reducing the extent of their areas of worry, increasing their tolerance to uncertainty and conquering their cognitive avoidance. One-month follow-up also showed that the decline trend of participants’ worries continued.
Discussion:
During EMDR, participants’ negative images, emotions and cognition were decreased and gradually lost their reliability, whereas positive aspects became alive and active.
Conclusions:
EMDR is an effective method for the treatment of GAD in women.
The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in reducing pathological worry in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Subject or material and methods:
Method. Three women with GAD were selected using a purposeful sampling method based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID-I). A baseline single-case experimental design was used and participants were included in the treatment in a stepped manner. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GADQ-IV), the Pennsylvania State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), the Worry Domain Questionnaire (WDQ), the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS) and the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (CAQ) were used as the baseline, pre-treatment, post-treatment and one-month followup assessments.
Results:
Results. The results showed that EMDR is effective in reducing pathological worry in patients with GAD. The participants were also successful in reducing the extent of their areas of worry, increasing their tolerance to uncertainty and conquering their cognitive avoidance. One-month follow-up also showed that the decline trend of participants’ worries continued.
Discussion:
During EMDR, participants’ negative images, emotions and cognition were decreased and gradually lost their reliability, whereas positive aspects became alive and active.
Conclusions:
EMDR is an effective method for the treatment of GAD in women.
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