Comparison the effectiveness of «cognitive-behavioral» and «eye movement desensitization reprocessing» treatment models on patients with war post-traumatic stress disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder which can develop after exposure to any event which results in psychological trauma. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most commonly used treatment for the disease and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a more rapid, relatively recent method. This study was designed with the aim of comparing the efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing method on reduction of specific symptoms and recovery in patients suffering from PTSD due to war. This experimental study was performed in year 2008. 45 veterans suffering from PTSD were divided randomly into three CBT, EMDR and control groups. Each of the mentioned groups contained 15 members. Two questionnaires including PTSD checklist-military version and symptom checklist 90 revised were applied in order to collect data. Data was analyzed using inferential statistical tests by SPSS 16. Scores of CBT group and EMDR group had a significant difference from control group scores. B oth models are effective on reduction of symptoms in PTSD.