Extension of EMDR vs. PC For Motor Vehicle Accident Trauma

Extension of EMDR vs. PC For Motor Vehicle Accident Trauma

This is an extension of a randomized clinical trial comparing eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to progressive counting (PC) for volunteers from the community who are distressed by the memory of a motor vehicle accident. The purpose of this extension is to add Phil Manfield's recently developed Flash technique as a precursor to both EMDR and PC, to see a) if that has any impact on participant retention, treatment effectiveness, or treatment efficiency; and b) if such impact is equivalent with EMDR and PC.

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult reporting distress related to motor vehicle accident-related trauma
• English-speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• already in therapy in which the memory of interest is being actively addressed with a structured/focused trauma resolution method
• any obvious/urgent need for more comprehensive psychotherapy (based on initial screening interview)
• any indication of instability during interactions prior to the therapy session
• an average score on the Dissociative Experiences Scale of 30 or greater, if (as per follow-up questions) indicating a likely dissociative disorder