RAPID TREATMENT OF BLOOD AND INJECTION PHOBIAS WITH EYE-MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION

A 21-year-old woman with injection and blood phobias was treated succe ssfully using eye movement desensitization. Treatment was conducted ov er four abbreviated sessions involving less than 1 hour of actual trea tment time. Fear changes following treatment were monitored through se lf-report and physiological response, both within and between sessions , and in relation to the behaviors of seeking and receiving an injecti on (flu shot) and having blood drawn. Treatment effects were maintaine d at follow-ups of 1, 14, and 24 weeks.