ROBERT H. TINKER, PhD, PC.
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RESEARCH: EMDR TREATMENT
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment for Psychologically traumatized individuals
Sandra A. Wilson
The Union Institute
Lee A. Becker
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Robert H. Tinker, PhD., Colorado Springs, Colorado
Dr. Robert Tinker
(abstract)
The effects of three 90-minute eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment sessions on traumatic memories of 80 participants were studied. Participants were randomly assigned to treatment or delayed-treatment conditions and to 1 of 5 licensed therapists trained in EMDR. Participants receiving EMDR showed decreases in presenting complaints and in anxiety and increases in positive cognition. Participants in the delayed-treatment condition showed no improvement on any of these measures across the 30 days before treatment, but after participants in the delayed-treatment condition showed similar effects on all measures. The effects were maintained at 90-day follow-up.
Research: 15 Month Follow Up
Fifteen month follow up of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Psychological Trauma.
Sandra A. Wilson
The Spencer-Curtis Foundation
Lee A. Becker
University of Colorado at Colorado springs
Robert H. Tinker
The Spencer-Curtis Foundation
(abstract)
The present study is a 15-month follow-up of the effects of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy on the functioning of 66 participants, 32 of whom were diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prior to treatment. PTSD participants improved as much as those without the diagnosis, with both groups maintaining their gains at 15 months. At 15-month follow-up, the three 90-minute sessions of EMDR previously administered (S.A. Wilson, LA. Becker, and R.H. Tinker, 1995) produced an 84% reduction in PTSD diagnosis and a 68% reduction in PTSD symptoms. The average treatment effect size was 1.59; the average reliable change index was 3.37. Implications of the maintenance of EMDR treatment effects are discussed.
Research: Stress Management
Stress Management with Law Enforcement Personnel: A Controlled Outcome Study of EMDR versus Traditional Stress Management Program
Sandra A. Wilson
Robert H. Tinker
Lee A. Becker
Carol R. Logan
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has been shown to be effective for treating posttraumatic stress disorder, but its efficacy as a stress management tool for normal individuals in highly stressful occupations has not been demonstrated. Sixty-two police officers were randomly assigned to either EMDR or a standard stress management program (SMP), each consisting of 6 hours of individualized contact. At completion, officers in the EMDR condition provided lower ratings on measures of PTSD symptoms, subjective distress, job, stress, and anger; and higher marital satisfaction ratings than those in SMP. The effects of EMDR were maintained at the 6-month follow-up, indicating enduring gains from a relatively brief treatment regimen for this subclinical sample of officers who were experiencing some level of stress from their job.