TREATING PHOBIC CHILDREN - EFFECTS OF EMDR VERSUS EXPOSURE

This study examined the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and r eprocessing (EMDR) and exposure in the treatment of a specific phobia. Twenty-six spider phobic children were treated during 2 treatment pha ses. During the first phase, which lasted 2.5 hr, children were random ly assigned to either (a) an EMDR group (n = 9), (b) an exposure in vi vo group (n = 9), or (c) a computerized exposure (control) group (n = 8). During the 2nd phase, all groups received a 1.5-hr session of expo sure in vivo. Therapy outcome measures (i.e., self-reported fear and b ehavioral avoidance) were obtained before treatment, after Treatment P hase 1, and after Treatment Phase 2. Results showed that the 2.5-hr ex posure in vivo session produced significant improvement on all outcome measures. In contrast, EMDR yielded a significant improvement on only self-reported spider fear. Computerized exposure produced nonsignific ant improvement. Furthermore, no evidence was found to suggest that EM DR potentiates the efficacy of a subsequent exposure in vivo treatment . Exposure in vivo remains the treatment of choice for childhood spide r phobia.