Nonpharmacological Techniques (NPT) have been suggested as an efficient and safe means to reduce pain and anxiety in invasive medical procedures. Due to the anxious and potentially traumatic nature of these procedures, we decided to integrate an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) session in the preprocedure NPT. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of one session of EMDR in addition to the routine NPT. Forty-nine pediatric patients (Male = 25; Female = 24) aged 8–18 years (M = 13.17; SD = 2.98) undergoing painful and invasive medical procedures were randomized to receive standard preprocedural care (N = 25) or a session of EMDR in addition to the standard nonpharmacological interventions (N = 24). Participants completed the anxiety and depression scales from the Italian Psychiatric Self-evaluation Scale for Children and Adolescents (SAFA) and rated anxiety on a 0–10 numeric rating scale. Participants in the NPT+EMDR condition expressed significantly less anxiety before the medical procedure than those in the NPT group (p = .038). The integration of EMDR with NPT was demonstrated to be an effective anxiety prevention technique for pediatric sedo-analgesia. These results are the first data on the efficacy of EMDR as a technique to prevent anxiety in pediatric sedo-analgesia. There are important long-term clinical implications because this therapy allows an intervention on situations at risk of future morbidity and the prevention of severe disorders.

This study used a quantitative, single-case study design to examine the effectiveness of the integration of intensive eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and ego state therapy for the treatment of an individual diagnosed with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The participant received 25.5 hr of treatment in a 3-week period, followed with 12 hr of primarily supportive therapy over the next 6-week period. Clinical symptoms decreased as evidenced by reduction in scores from baseline to 6-week follow-up on the following scales: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) from 46 (severe depression) to 15 (mild mood disorder), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) from 37 (severe anxiety) to 25 (moderate anxiety), and Impact of Events Scale from 50 (severe PTSD symptoms) to 12 (below PTSD cutoff ). Scores showed further reductions at 6-month follow-up. Results show the apparent effectiveness of the integration of intensive EMDR and ego state work.

This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and concomitant depressive and anxiety symptoms in survivors of life-threatening cardiac events. Forty-two patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation who (a) qualified for the PTSD criterion “A” in relation to a cardiac event and (b) presented clinically significant PTSD symptoms were randomized to a 4-week treatment of EMDR or imaginal exposure (IE). Data were gathered on PTSD, anxiety, and depressive symptoms at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6-month follow-up. EMDR was effective in reducing PTSD, depressive, and anxiety symptoms and performed significantly better than IE for all variables. These findings provide preliminary support for EMDR as an effective treatment for the symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety that can follow a life-threatening cardiac event.

This randomized controlled trial extended the investigation previously conducted by Jarero et al. (2015) which found that the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing Integrative Group Treatment Protocol adapted for ongoing traumatic stress (EMDR-IGTP-OTS) was effective in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to the diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancer in adult women. The current study sought to determine if the results could be replicated and if the treatment would also be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Participants in treatment (N = 35) and no-treatment control (N = 30) groups completed pre, post, and follow-up measurements using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) (PCL-5) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data analysis by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the EMDR-IGTP-OTS was effective in significantly reducing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, with symptoms maintained at 90-day follow-up and with large effect sizes (e.g., d = 1.80). A comparison of the treatment and no-treatment control groups showed significantly greater decreases for the treatment group on symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. No significant correlation was found when exploring the relationship between scores on the Adverse Life Experiences scale and scores indicating pretreatment severity of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This study suggests that EMDR-IGTP-OTS may be an efficient and effective way to address cancer-related posttraumatic, depressive, and anxious symptoms.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) Couple Protocol on the relationship-satisfaction, depression, and anxiety levels of couples. This protocol differs from standard EMDR procedures in that the partners are together in the treatment session, and engage in bidirectional stimulation simultaneously. The treatment targets are disturbing events that the couples have experienced together. Couples have the opportunity to accept, recognize, and witness each other's recovery process during the session. The EMDR Couple Protocol consists of eight phases, and it was developed for couples wanting to improve their relationship. The study sample consisted of 18 couples suitable for the application of the EMDR Couple Protocol. Treatment was provided by an EMDR Europe Level 2 EMDR psychotherapist to the couples. The mean number of sessions was 14.27 ± 4.04. The couples showed significant improvement between pre-EMDR, post-EMDR, and at three months follow-up with large effect sizes for relationship satisfaction (η² = 0.944), depression (η² = 0.385), and anxiety (η² = 0.258). The present study evaluating the effectiveness of the EMDR Couple Protocol showed a positive effect on the relationship-satisfaction, depression and anxiety symptoms of the couples. The EMDR Couple Protocol appeared to be safe and effective.

Recent research stresses that cognitive and affective processes are implicated in Tourette Syndrome (TS) and might influence treatment. The cognitive-behavioral and psychophysiological (CoPs) approach posits that negative appraisals and maladaptive action-planning elicit negative emotions and behaviors that increase muscular tension and thus the urge to tic in TS. Hence, the CoPs targets cognitive-behavioral and affective processes increasing tension prior to tic onset. This article provides clinically novel information in the implementation and utility of the CoPs approach in a severe case of a young man with TS and a range of comorbidities marked by negative cognitions and emotions as well as planning deficits with a long-term follow-up. He received 14 sessions of CoPs therapy. Tic severity significantly decreased post-treatment with maintenance up to 36-months. The process measure of action-planning improved significantly from pre-treatment to 12-months follow-up. Results support the feasibility and acceptability of the CoPs in treating complex TS cases.

Purpose: To assess the levels and prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and to identify factors associated with these emotions among Jordanian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: This descriptive study recruited 149 participants through a convenience sampling technique. Depression, anxiety, and stress burdens were measured through Arabic short version of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). Results: There were 28.8%, 49.5%, and 33.5% of participants who had moderate-to-extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The depression, anxiety, and stress burdens were associated with patients’ gender and educational level, and the highest level of depression, anxiety, and stress burdens levels were associated with the presence of diabetes complications and other chronic illness. Conclusion: The findings from this study can guide the health providers to address psychological status for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in their care plans.

This article discusses potential adaptations to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) needed when working with older adults. Although CBT has been demonstrated to be efficacious in older anxious populations in meta-analyses, more research is needed to better understand the efficacy of CBT for the individual anxiety disorders, for older adults aged 80 years and older, and the efficacy of individual CBT elements. Despite normal age-related reductions in cognitive and physical abilities, most research suggests that only minor adaptations to CBT, if any, are needed for older adults. More significant adaptations relate to therapist attitudes and beliefs rather than the pragmatic CBT delivery, for example, negative attitudes related to aging and the likely benefit of CBT. Despite normal age-related declines in some cognitive domains, research to date suggests that normal cognitive changes do not significantly impact on treatment outcomes over the course of CBT; a case example is presented.

Threat bias, or exaggerated selective attention to threat, is considered a key neurocognitive factor in the etiology and maintenance of pediatric anxiety disorders. However, upon closer examination of the literature, there is greater heterogeneity in threat-related attentional biases than typically acknowledged. This is likely impacting progress that can be made in terms of interventions focused on modifying this bias and reducing anxiety, namely attention bias modification training. We suggest that the field may need to “take a step back” from developing interventions and focus research efforts on improving the methodology of studying attention bias itself, particularly in a developmental context. We summarize a neurocognitive model that addresses the issue of heterogeneity by broadly incorporating biases toward and away from threat, linking this variation to key neurodevelopmental factors, and providing a basis for future research aimed at improving the utility of threat bias measures and interventions in clinical practice.

The Coping Cat protocol has shown both efficacy and effectiveness in the treatment of youth anxiety across numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs), leading to its designation as an empirically supported treatment. The treatment is completed in two phases. In the first phase, children are taught a series of coping skills outlined using the FEAR plan acronym. The FEAR plan is then practiced in exposure tasks during the second phase of treatment. To illustrate implementation of both phases, and highlight core treatment components (i.e., exposure, flexibility within fidelity), a case description is presented. Directions for future research are discussed.