Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in trauma related panic disorder: clinical outcomes through a neuroendocrine lens

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy on symptoms and disease severity in individuals diagnosed with panic disorders who had experienced at least 1 traumatic event. METHODS: This study was conducted using a single-group pretest posttest experimental design. Participants received the standard EMDR protocol, and symptom severity was assessed using the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) at 4 separate time points (pretreatment, post-first session, post-second session, and posttreatment). RESULTS: The study included 34 participants (25 women, 9 men; mean age, 33.6 ± 8.1 years). A significant decrease in PBSS scores was observed across the 4 measurements (pretest: 19.6 ± 5.7; posttest: 8.8 ± 2.7; P < .001). The change (delta) in PBSS scores according to sex was 11.5 ± 3.9 in women and 9.1 ± 2.6 in men, with no statistically significant difference between groups (P = .068). No effect of marital status on symptom changes was observed (P > .05). A weak but nonsignificant positive correlation was found between age and PBSS change scores (r = 0.261; P = .135). CONCLUSION: EMDR therapy appears to be effective in reducing symptom severity in patients with panic disorders in the short term. This effect was observed independently of the demographic variables. However, further studies are needed to determine long term efficacy and compare the results with other therapeutic approaches.