EMDR in the Treatment of Specific Phobia.

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Overview

The purpose for this study is to determine whether EMDR is effective in the treatment of specific (animal) phobia.

Aims: To test the hypothesis that one session EMDR is more effective for the treatment of specific (animal) phobia than relaxation immediately after treatment and at follow-up. Secondly to test whether an additional one-session exposure therapy offered to both treatment groups (EMDR patients and relaxation patients) improves outcome in the EMDR-group and results in equal outcome for both treatment groups.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Conditions

Specific Phobia

Interventions

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)OTHER

Psychotherapy which is approved for PTSD.

Exposure therapyOTHER

All participants in the study received exposure therapy som second treatment. Exposure therapy is the therapy of choice for animal phobia.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 15 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with Specific (Animal) Phobia Exclusion Criteria: * Current or past psychotic disorder * Current substance dependence or abuse * Serious physical illness * Active suicidal behavior * Bipolar affective disorder * Pregnancy

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Behavioral Approach Test towards the feared animal.

Time frame: Before and after each treatment

Secondary Outcomes

Scores on self-report questionnaires on phobic symptoms

Time frame: Before and after both treatments

Neuropsychological function

Time frame: Before first treatment, some measures also before second treatment

Cognitive strategies

Time frame: Before both treatments

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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