As Bob knows, I've long been a critic of many of the claims regarding EMDR. But what disturbs me about EMDR is less the treatment per se (meta-analysis show it probably works about as well as prolonged exposure, but no better) but rather its extreme overpromotion by many (in all fairness, not all) of its advocates. When it was first introduced, it was regularly referred to as a "miracle" cure and a "breakthrough" (in the title of the 1997 book co-authored by its developer, Francine Shapiro), and even today many of its proponents continue to insist that it is far more effective and efficient than behavioral therapies despite a conspicuous absence of evidence. So in evaluating claims regarding EMDR, as is so often the case, one must distinguish between the treatment itself and the "movement" surrounding its dissemination to practitioners and the public. Best....Scott
Scott O. Lilienfeld, Ph.D. Professor Editor, Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice Department of Psychology, Room 473 Psychology and Interdisciplinary Sciences (PAIS) Emory University 36 Eagle Row Atlanta, Georgia 30322 slil...@emory.edu (404) 727-1125 Psychology Today Blog: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-skeptical-psychologist 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-140513111X.html Scientific American Mind: Facts and Fictions in Mental Health Column: http://www.scientificamerican.com/sciammind/ The Master in the Art of Living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation, his love and his intellectual passions. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him - he is always doing both. - Zen Buddhist text (slightly modified) -----Original Message----- From: Dr. Bob Wildblood [mailto:drb...@rcn.com] Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 11:43 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] clinical workers and evidence Gerald Peterson wrote: >Here is an interesting article about the problems of evidence-based clinical >workers. I don't like them calling all therapists psychologists, nor the >subtitle of psychologists rejecting science, and it's a bit of >over-simplification, but might be of interest to some. See: >http://www.newsweek.com/id/216506 > Having been a counselor/therapist for 33 years, there is lots in this article to agree with. Many clinicians and physicians do rely more on intuition than on science in making decisions as to how to treat a client/patient with a particular disorder (taking into consideration that diagnosis is, itself, not very scientific in many cases, especially psychology/psychiatry). That being said, there are manhy of us who do rely on the use of "evidence based therapies" especially those which are supported strongly by research. In fact, our beloved insurance companies are beginning to know what kind of therapy is being used for what diagnosis, and I have heard (anecdotes, to be sure) that some people have been refused reimbursement if certain therapies are not used with certain diagnoses. Interestingly (to possibly start a firestorm here) one of the therapies which has as much or more research than any other is EMDR and its use in PTSD resulting from a multitude of causes, because! w! e don't know what sense there is behind it that can explain how it might work. Since I am an advocate of EMDR, have read the research, and have seen the results with my own clients starting with Vietnam veterans (in my experience since about 1994, not immediately after the conflict was finally abandoned) I submit that it is an evidence based therapy and as to how it works, I submit that we know as much about how it works as we do about how aspirin works. In sum, not a bad article although it is a bit simplified. Robert W. Wildblood, PhD Riverside Counseling Center and Adjunct at Germanna CC, Fredericksburg, VA drb...@rcn.com The soundest argument will produce no more conviction in an empty head than the most superficial declamation; as a feather and a guinea fall with equal velocity in a vacuum. - Charles Caleb Colton, author and clergyman (1780-1832) Not thinking critically, I assumed that the "successful" prayers were proof that God answers prayer while the failures were proof that there was something wrong with me. - Dan Barker, former preacher, musician (b. 1949) We have an obligation and a responsibility to be investing in our students and our schools. We must make sure that people who have the grades, the desire and the will, but not the money, can still get the best education possible. - Barack Obama, President of the United States of America --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu) This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the original message (including attachments). --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu)
