REM Desensitization as a New Therapeutic Method for Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aim: to evaluate potential efficacy 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. Pa...

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Main Authors: Khodabakhsh Ahmadi, Majid Hazrati, Mohammadjavad Ahmadizadeh1, Sima Noohi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Interna Publishing 2016-05-01
Series:Acta Medica Indonesiana
Online Access:http://actamedindones.org/index.php/ijim/article/view/46
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author Khodabakhsh Ahmadi
Majid Hazrati
Mohammadjavad Ahmadizadeh1
Sima Noohi
author_facet Khodabakhsh Ahmadi
Majid Hazrati
Mohammadjavad Ahmadizadeh1
Sima Noohi
author_sort Khodabakhsh Ahmadi
collection DOAJ
description Aim: to evaluate potential efficacy 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 final 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 significantly 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 significantly 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 significantly less likely to represent a superior therapeutic effect than EMDR. Key words: post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, new treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-e59818c7442e4dd0b0994daadfbcdeb42025-08-20T02:57:46ZengInterna PublishingActa Medica Indonesiana0125-93262338-27322016-05-01472REM Desensitization as a New Therapeutic Method for Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled TrialKhodabakhsh Ahmadi0Majid Hazrati1Mohammadjavad Ahmadizadeh12Sima Noohi3Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranMilitary Psychology, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranBehavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Aim: to evaluate potential efficacy 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 final 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 significantly 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 significantly 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 significantly less likely to represent a superior therapeutic effect than EMDR. Key words: post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, new treatment. http://actamedindones.org/index.php/ijim/article/view/46
spellingShingle Khodabakhsh Ahmadi
Majid Hazrati
Mohammadjavad Ahmadizadeh1
Sima Noohi
REM Desensitization as a New Therapeutic Method for Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Acta Medica Indonesiana
title REM Desensitization as a New Therapeutic Method for Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full REM Desensitization as a New Therapeutic Method for Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_fullStr REM Desensitization as a New Therapeutic Method for Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed REM Desensitization as a New Therapeutic Method for Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_short REM Desensitization as a New Therapeutic Method for Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_sort rem desensitization as a new therapeutic method for post traumatic stress disorder a randomized controlled trial
url http://actamedindones.org/index.php/ijim/article/view/46
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AT mohammadjavadahmadizadeh1 remdesensitizationasanewtherapeuticmethodforposttraumaticstressdisorderarandomizedcontrolledtrial
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