The Effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Technique on Chronic Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) In Soldiers

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) technique on soldiers'' chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The population was all soldiers with PTSD psychiatric records in the Salman hospital of Yasooj. From this population 32 persons were selected through simple random sampling and assigned into two experimental and control groups (each group، 16 persons). The experimental group received EMDR training for 5 sessions، 90 minutes each once a week but control group received no training. The study instruments included Impact of Event Scale-Revised، PTSD symptoms self-report scale، Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory. Subjective Units of Distress، and Validity of Cognition scales. Participants were tested at pre-test، post-test، and a three-month follow up stages. Data were analysed using MANCOVA and ANCOVA methods. Findings showed that the method of EMDR decreases the means of Impact of Event Scale-Revised، PTSD Symptoms Self-report Scale، Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory (P=0. 001). The follow up findings also revealed that there are significant differences between the control and the experimental groups in the variables under study (P=0. 001). The Findings suggested that this method is effective in alleviating PTSD and its symptoms.