The relative effectiveness of EMDR versus relaxation training with battered women prisoners

Rye women prisoners with a history of being battered and who met the DSM-IV criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder were assessed (A phase) and pr ovided with structured relaxation training (RT) (B phase, or placebo treatm ent), followed by eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) ther apy (C phase). Using the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Impact of Events Sc ale's avoidance behavior and intrusive thoughts subscales as outcome measur es, RT alone did not result in any clinical improvements. The subsequent pr ovision of EMDR did not improve upon this lack of success with 4 of the 5 p articipants; 1 did improve on anxiety and intrusive thoughts. The apparent ineffectiveness of EMDR with these participants may be attributed to severa l explanations. Foremost perhaps is the hypothesis that EMDR is not suffici ent to ameliorate the effects of chronic abuse.