TY  - JOUR
A1  - Köhler, Kai
A1  - Eggert, Patrick
A1  - Lorenz, Sebastian
A1  - Herr, Kerstin
A1  - Willmund, Gerd
A1  - Zimmermann, Peter
A1  - Alliger-Horn, Christina
T1  - Effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in German Armed Forces Soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder under routine inpatient care conditions
JF  - Military medicine : the official journal of AMSUS
N2  - Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the more commonly occurring mental disorders following potentially traumatizing events soldiers may encounter when deployed abroad. One of the first-line recommended treatment options is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). The number of studies assessing the effectiveness of EMDR in German soldiers under routine conditions is currently almost nil. Methods: A retrospective, quasi-experimental effectiveness study on EMDR in an inpatient setting is presented using a prepost design. The study compares symptom reduction in soldiers (N = 78) with a wait-list (N = 18). Effect sizes of EMDR were measured for PTSD, symptoms of depression, and general mental health. Results: Effect size for EMDR treatment of PTSD was d = 0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51 to 1.36, for symptoms of depression d = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.31 to 1.36, and for general psychiatric symptoms d = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.17 to 1.21. The effects resulting from EMDR treatment were somewhat weaker than those reported in comparable studies in civilians. Conclusion: EMDR therapy is an effective treatment to reduce symptoms of PTSD and depression. However, in the military context it needs to be complemented by treatment options that specifically address further conditions perpetuating the disorders.
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-16-00307
SN  - 0026-4075
SN  - 1930-613X
VL  - 182
SP  - E1672
EP  - E1680
PB  - Oxford University Press
CY  - Oxford
ER  -