Eye
Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is one of the first treatments
of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to be supported in controlled research,
and it is now increasingly extended to other psychological disorders. The
present study was designed to compare the effects of muscle relaxation and EMDR
procedures in the treatment of anxiety sensitivity. Nineteen undergraduate
students responded on the Anxiety Sensitivity Profile (asp) which was a
standardized, self-report measure with four subscales. They were randomly
assigned to two groups (treatment condition; muscle relaxation and EMDR); and
they were filled out the ASP scale before, five days, and four months after the
intervention (intervention time; pre and post intervention and follow up).
Results showed that EMDR treatment produced a significant decline in fear of
respiratory symptoms subscale score, and this decline appeared to continue after
a four month follow-up. In addition fear of the cardiac symptoms too decreased
in EMDR condition after a four month follow-up. The findings support the notion
that EMDR can be a more effective treatment than the muscle relaxation for those
who have an anxiety sensitivity with a trauma related etiology and also who
experience anxiety sensitivity in certain circumstances. Consistency of the
findings with the literature was discussed.
Keywords: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), applied muscle relaxation, anxiety sensitivity