An Exploratory Comparison Of IEMT-Versus EMDR-Directed Eye Movements On Changes In Emotionality And Distress During Recall Of Negative Memories

Eye movement therapies have shown effectiveness in reducing distress pertaining to past traumatic events. In the clinical field, a variety of eye movement therapies exists, with the directions of eye movements and respective guidelines differentiating one from the other. Anecdotal work field evidence suggests Integral Eye Movement Therapy (IEMT) is as has less side effects; however, research is scarce at present. Participants were recruited from the general population, and all received three conditions (IEMT, EMDR, control) in randomized order (N=33). Participants were asked to recall a pre-chosen negative memory. Questionnaires were answered pre-, post-intervention, and at one-week follow-up. These self-reports consisted of visual analogue scales measuring emotionality and distress, forming the main outcome of Subjective Units of Distress(SUD). Blinded to condition, 60.6% preferred the IEMT condition to the EMDR- or the control condition. SUD-scores were significantly lower after both IEMT and EMDR conditions than after the control condition at post-intervention (p=.001; p<.001, respectively) and at follow-up (p=.014; p=.002, respectively). IEMT and EMDR conditions did not significantly differ at any time point. This study was the first to compare IEMT and EMDR directed eye movements and found that each significantly lowered the experienced emotionality and distress related to a negative memory, as tested in randomized order in the general population.