REM Desensitization as a New Therapeutic Method for PostTraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT: to evaluate
potential effcacy of a new therapeutic approach in posttraumatic stress
disorder in comparison with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
(EMDR), a standard treatment approach and controls. Methods: the study was
designed using a randomized controlled trial methodology. Participants were recruited
from military servicemen aged between 25 to 50 years who were admitting
hospitals of Bushehr, Iran, with the fnal diagnosis of PTSD. Finally 33 male
patients were devided into three subgroups: G1: EMDR; G2: REM Desensitization;
and group 3: controls who received no therapy. Mississippi Scale for
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a 37
item death anxiety questionnaire were used for measures. Results: multiple
comparisons showed that intrusive thoughts were signifcantly more likely to
improve with REM Desensitization versus EMDR (P=0.03), while depression was
more responsive to EMDR (p=0.03). Among the Pittsburgh scale for the quality of
sleep items, sleep quality (p=0.02), sleep duration (p=0.001), and total sleep
quality score (p=0.002) were signifcantly more likely to improve in the REM
Desensitization group. Change in the absolute death anxiety scores was not
different between subgroups excepting EMDR versus control group (p=0.05).
Conclusion: REM, desensitization, the new therapeutic approach to PTSD is a
highly effective strategy, even more than EMDR, the standard treatment, in most
of the evaluated subjects, with special emphasis on sleep symptoms, and also in
the management of intrusive thoughts. Depression is the only factor in which,
REM Desensitization was signifcantly less likely to represent a superior
therapeutic effect than EMDR.
Key words: post traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, new
treatment
Author: Khodabakhsh Ahmadi,
Majid Hazrati, Mohammadjavad Ahmadizadeh, Sima Noohi
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg150252
