EMDR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Panic Disorder: A Comparison

A pilot comparison was made between two treatments for panic disorder, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Treatment was provided in the private practice settings of 7 credentialed therapists, whose treatment fidelity was monitored throughout the study. Five outcome measures were administered at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 1-year follow-up. There was significant improvement for participants in both groups (N = 19) after 12 sessions of treatment. No significant differences in outcome were seen between the 2 therapies, except for lower frequency of panic attacks reported by those in the EMDR group. The current study reanalyzed the data previously reported in Faretta (2012). Further research in this area is suggested.