Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparing the Effectiveness of EMDR and TF-CBT for Children and Adolescents: a Meta-Analysis

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Efficacy of EMDR and TF-CBT for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) was explored through meta-analysis. A comprehensive search yielded 494 studies of children and adolescents with PTSS who received treatment with these evidence-based therapeutic modalities. Thirty total studies were included in the meta-analysis. The overall Cohen’s d was small (−0.359) and statistically significant (p < 0.05), indicating EMDR and TF-CBT are effective in treating PTSS. Major findings posit TF-CBT is marginally more effective than EMDR; those with sub-clinical PTSS responded more favorably in treatment than those with PTSD; and greater reductions in PTSS were observed with presence of comorbidity in diagnosis. Assessment of publication bias with Classic fail-safe N revealed it would take 457 nonsignificant studies to nullify these findings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

*References marked with an asterisk indicate studies included in the meta-analysis.

  • Adler-Nevo, G., & Manassis, K. (2005). Psychosocial treatment of pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder: The neglected field of single-incident trauma. Depression and Anxiety, 22(4), 177–189. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad, A., & Sundelin-Wahlsten, V. (2008). Applying EMDR on children with PTSD. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 17(3), 127–132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-0646-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Ahmad, A., Larsson, B., & Sundelin-Wahlsten, V. (2007). EMDR treatment for children with PTSD: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 61(5), 349–354. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039480701643464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biostat. (2005). Comprehensive meta-analysis [computer software] [version 2.0]. Englewood: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Black, P. J., Woodworth, M., Tremblay, M., & Carpenter, T. (2012). A review of trauma-informed treatment for adolescents. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 53(3), 192–203. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J., & Rothstein, H. R. (2009). Introduction to meta-analysis. West Sussex: Wiley.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cary, C. E., & McMillen, J. C. (2012). The data behind the dissemination: A systematic review of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for use with children and youth. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(4), 748–757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.01.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cavett, A. M., & Drewes, A. A. (2012). Play applications and skills components. In J. A. Cohen, A. P. Mannarino, & E. Deblinger (Eds.), Trauma-focused CBT for children and adolescents: Treatment applications (pp. 105–123). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • *Chemtob, C. M., Nakashima, J., & Carlson, J. G. (2002). Brief treatment for elementary school children with disaster-related posttraumatic stress disorder: A field study. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(1), 99–112. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.1131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2012). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children affected by sexual abuse or trauma. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. A., & Mannarino, A. P. (1996). A treatment study for sexually abused preschool children: Initial findings. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35, 42–50. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199601000-00011.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. A., & Mannarino, A. P. (1998). Interventions for sexually abused children: Initial treatment findings. Child Maltreatment, 3, 17–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559598003001002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. A., & Mannarino, A. P. (2008). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children and parents. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 13(4), 158–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-3588.2008.00502.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Cohen, J. A., Deblinger, E., Mannarino, A. P., & Steer, R. A. (2004a). A multisite, randomized controlled trial for children with sexual abuse-related PTSD symptoms. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43(4), 393–402. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200404000-00005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., & Knudsen, K. (2004b). Treating childhood traumatic grief: A pilot study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43(10), 1225–1233. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.chi.0000135620.15522.38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., & Iyengar, S. (2011). Community treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder for children exposed to intimate partner violence: a randomized controlled trial. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 165(1), 16–21. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.247.

  • Connor, D. F., Ford, J. D., Arnsten, A. T., & Greene, C. A. (2015). An update on posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents. Clinical Pediatrics, 54(6), 517–528. https://doi.org/10.1177/0009922814540793.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Copping, V. E., Warling, D. L., Benner, D. G., & Woodside, D. W. (2001). A child trauma treatment pilot study. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 10(4), 467–475.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Costantino, G., Primavera, L., Malgady, R., & Costantino, E. (2014). Culturally oriented trauma treatments for Latino children post 9/11. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 7(4), 247–255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-014-0031-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Damra, J. M., Nassar, Y. H., & Ghabri, T. F. (2014). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy: Cultural adaptations for application in Jordanian culture. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 27(3), 308–323. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2014.918534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, P. R., & Parker, K. H. (2001). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): A meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69(2), 305–316. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.69.2.305.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Arellano, M. R., Lyman, D. R., Jobe-Shields, L., George, P., Dougherty, R. H., Daniels, A. S., … Delphin-Rittmon, M. E. (2014). Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for children and adolescents: Assessing the evidence. Psychiatric Services, 65(5), 591–602. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201300255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *de Roos, C., Greenwald, R., den Hollander-Gijsman, M., Noorthoorn, E., van Buuren, S., & de Jongh, A. (2011). A randomised comparison of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) in disaster-exposed children. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 2, 5694–5705. https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v2i0.5694.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deblinger, E., Mannarino, A. P., Cohen, J. A., Runyon, M. K., & Steer, R. A. (2011). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children: Impact of the trauma narrative and treatment length. Depression and Anxiety, 28(1), 67–75. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20744.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *Diehle, J., Opmeer, B. C., Boer, F., Mannarino, A. P., & Lindauer, R. L. (2015). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: What works in children with posttraumatic stress symptoms? A randomized controlled trial. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 24(2), 227–236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-014-0572-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dozier, M., Peloso, E., Lewis, E., Laurenceau, J., & Levine, S. (2008). Effects of an attachment-based intervention of the cortisol production of infants and toddlers in foster care. Development and Psychopathology, 20(3), 845–859. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579408000400.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Duval, S., & Tweedie, R. (2000). Trim and fill: A simple funnel-plot-based method of testing and adjusting for publication bias in meta-analysis. Biometrics, 56, 455–463. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0006-341X.2000.00455.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foa, E. B., & Meadows, E. (1997). Psychosocial treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder: A critical review. Annual Review of Psychology, 48(1), 449–480. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.48.1.449.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foa, E. B., Keane, T. M., Friedman, M. J., & Cohen, J. A. (2009). Effective treatments for PTSD: Practice guidelines from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foley, T., & Spates, C. R. (1995). Eye movement desensitization of public-speaking anxiety: A partial dismantling. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 26(4), 321–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7916(95)00048-8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, J. D., Steinberg, K., Hawke, J., Levine, J., & Zhang, W. (2012). Evaluation of trauma affect regulation—Guide for education and therapy (TARGET) with traumatized girls involved in delinquency. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 41(1), 27–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2012.632343.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwald, R. (1999). Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in child and adolescent psychotherapy. New York: Jason Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greyber, L. R., Dulmus, C. N., & Cristalli, M. E. (2012). Eye movement desensitization reprocessing, posttraumatic stress disorder, and trauma: A review of randomized controlled trials with children and adolescents. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 29(5), 409–425. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-012-0266-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, S. T., & Taylor, J. E. (2010). A meta-analysis of the effects of psychotherapy with sexually abused children and adolescents. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(5), 517–535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *Hebert, M., & Daignault, I. V. (2015). Challenges in treatment of sexually abused preschoolers: A pilot study of TF-CBT in Quebec. Sexologies: European Journal of Sexology and Sexual Health / Revue Européenne De Sexologie Et De Santé Sexuelle, 24(1), e21-e27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sexol.2014.09.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helland, M. J., & Mathiesen, K. S. (2009). 13–15 aringer fra vanlige familier i Norge: Hverdagsliv og psykisk helse [13–15 year-olds from regular families in Norway: Everyday life and mental health]. Retrieved from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health website: http://www.fhi.no/dokumenter/d2d94780d4.pdf

  • Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence—From domestic abuse to political terror. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho, M. K., & Lee, C. W. (2012). Cognitive behaviour therapy versus eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for post-traumatic disorder—Is it all in the homework then? European Review of Applied Psychology / Revue Européenne De Psychologie Appliquée, 62(4), 253–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2012.08.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howe, D. (2005). Child abuse and neglect: Attachment, development, and intervention. New York: Palgrave.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • *Jaberghaderi, N., Greenwald, R., Rubin, A., Zand, S. O., & Dolatabadi, S. (2004). A comparison of CBT and EMDR for sexually-abused Iranian girls. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 11(5), 358–368. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Jaycox. L. H., Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., Walker, D. W., Langley, A. K., Gegenheimer, K. L., Scott M. Schonlau, M. (2010). Children's mental health care following hurricane Katrina: A field trial of trauma-focused psychotherapies. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23(2), 223–231. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20518.

  • *Jensen, T. K., Holt, T., Ormhaug, S. M., Egeland, K., Granly, L., Hoaas, L. C., … Wentzel-Larsen, T. (2014). A randomized effectiveness study comparing trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy with therapy as usual for youth. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 43(3), 356–369. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2013.822307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kagan, R. (2009). Transforming troubled children into tomorrow's heroes. In D. Brom, R. Pat-Horenczyk, J. D. Ford, D. Brom, R. Pat-Horenczyk, & J. D. Ford (Eds.), Treating traumatized children: Risk, resilience and recovery (pp. 255–268). New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • *Kemp, M., Drummond, P., & McDermott, B. (2010). A wait-list controlled pilot study of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for children with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms from motor vehicle accidents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 15(1), 5–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104509339086.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. C., Sonnega, A., Bromet, E., Hughes, M., & Nelson, C. B. (1995). Posttraumatic stress disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey. Archives of General Psychiatry, 52(12), 1048–1060. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1995.03950240066012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Konanur, S., & Muller, R. (2012). A community-based study of the effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral with trauma-exposed school-aged children in Toronto, Canada. International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) 28th Annual Meeting: Innovations to Expand Services and Tailor Traumatic Stress Treatments, November 1–3, 2012, Los Angeles, CA [Abstracts]. https://doi.org/10.1037/e533652013-128.

  • Kowalik, J., Weller, J., Venter, J., & Drachman, D. (2011). Cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder: A review and meta-analysis. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 42(3), 405–413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2011.02.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *Layne, C. M., Pynoos, R. S., Saltzman, W. R., Arslanagić, B., Black, M., Savjak, N., Popović T., Duraković E., Mušić M., Ćampara N., Djapo N. Houston, R. (2001). Trauma/grief-focused group psychotherapy: School-based postwar intervention with traumatized Bosnian adolescents. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 5(4), 277–290. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2699.5.4.277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lenz, A. S., & Hollenbaugh, K. M. (2015). Meta-analysis of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for treating PTSD and co-occurring depression among children and adolescents. Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation, 6(1), 18–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/2150137815573790.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lipsey, M. W., & Wilson, D. B. (2001). Practical meta-analysis. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc..

    Google Scholar 

  • Little, S. G., & Akin-Little, A. (2009). Trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy. In A. Akin-Little, S. G. Little, M. A. Bray, & T. J. Kehle (Eds.), Behavioral interventions in schools: Evidence-based positive strategies (pp. 325–333). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/11886-021.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lohr, J. M., Kleinknecht, R. A., Tolin, D. F., & Barrett, R. H. (1995). The empirical status of the clinical application of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 26(4), 285–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7916(95)00041-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lohr, J. M., Tolin, D. F., & Lilienfeld, S. O. (1998). Efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Implications for behavior therapy. Behavior Therapy, 29(1), 123–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(98)80035-X.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lovett, J. (1999). Small wonders: Healing childhood trauma with EMDR. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowell, D. I., Carter, A. S., Godoy, L., Paulicin, B., & Briggs-Gowan, M. J. (2011). A randomized controlled trial of child FIRST: A comprehensive home-based intervention translating research into early childhood practice. Child Development, 82(1), 193–208. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01550.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Madigan, S., Vaillancourt, K., McKibbon, A., & Benoit, D. (2015). Trauma and traumatic loss in pregnant adolescents: The impact of trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy on maternal unresolved states of mind and posttraumatic stress disorder. Attachment and Human Development, 17(2), 175–198. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2015.1006386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mannarino, A. P., Cohen, J. A., Deblinger, E., Runyon, M. K., & Steer, R. A. (2012). Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for children: Sustained impact of treatment 6 and 12 months later. Child Maltreatment, 17(3), 231–241. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559512451787.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *McMullen, J., O'Callaghan, P., Shannon, C., Black, A., & Eakin, J. (2013). Group trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy with former child soldiers and other war-affected boys in the DR Congo: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(11), 1231–1241. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12094.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Murray, L. K., Familiar, I., Skavenski, S., Jere, E., Cohen, J., Imasiku, M., … Bolton, P. (2013). An evaluation of trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children in Zambia. Child Abuse and Neglect, 37(12), 1175–1185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.04.017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Najavits, L. M., Gallop, R. J., & Weiss, R. D. (2006). Seeking safety therapy for adolescent girls with PTSD and substance use disorder: A randomized controlled trial. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 33(4), 453–463. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-006-9034-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2014). Complex trauma: Facts for service providers working with homeless youth and young adults. Los Angeles: National Center for Child Traumatic Stress.

    Google Scholar 

  • *O'Callaghan, P., McMullen, J., Shannon, C., Rafferty, H., & Black, A. (2013). A randomized controlled trial of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for sexually exploited, war-affected Congolese girls. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(4), 359–369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2013.01.013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *O'Donnell, K., Dorsey, S., Gong, W., Ostermann, J., Whetten, R., Cohen, J. A., Itemba D., Manongi R. Whetten, K. (2014). Treating maladaptive grief and posttraumatic stress symptoms in orphaned children in Tanzania: Group-based trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 27(6), 664–671. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.21970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Oras, R., De Ezpeleta, S. C., & Ahmad, A. (2004). Treatment of traumatized refugee children with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in a psychodynamic context. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 58(3), 199–203. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039480410006232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Ormhaug, S. M., Jensen, T. K., Wentzel-Larsen, T., & Shirk, S. R. (2014). The therapeutic alliance in treatment of traumatized youths: Relation to outcome in a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82(1), 52–64. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033884.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orwin, R. G. (1983). A fail-safe N for effect size in meta-analysis. Journal of Educational Statistics, 8, 157–159. https://doi.org/10.3102/10769986008002157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Puffer, M. K., Greenwald, R., & Elrod, D. E. (1998). A single session EMDR study with twenty traumatized children and adolescents. Traumatology, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.1037/h0101053.

  • Puttre, J. J. (2011). A meta-analytic review of the treatment outcome literature for traumatized children and adolescents. Dissertation Abstracts International, 72, 2445.

    Google Scholar 

  • *Ready, C. B., Hayes, A. M., Yasinski, C. W., Webb, C., Gallop, R., Deblinger, E., & Laurenceau, J. P. (2015). Overgeneralized beliefs, accommodation, and symptom outcome in youth receiving trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for childhood trauma. Behavior Therapy, 46(5), 671–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2015.03.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Ribchester, T., Yule, W., & Duncan, A. (2010). EMDR for childhood PTSD after road traffic accidents: Attentional, memory, and attributional processes. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 4(4), 138–147. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.4.4.138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodenburg, R., Benjamin, A., de Roos, C., Meijer, A. M., & Stams, G. J. (2009). Efficacy of EMDR in children: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(7), 599–606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.06.008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rolfsnes, E. S., & Idsoe, T. (2011). School-based intervention programs for PTSD symptoms: A review and meta-analysis. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 24(2), 155–165. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20622.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanderson, A., & Carpenter, R. (1992). Eye movement desensitization versus image confrontation: A single-session crossover study of 58 phobic subjects. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 23(4), 269–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7916(92)90049-O.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *Scheeringa, M. S., Weems, C. F., Cohen, J. A., Amaya-Jackson, L., & Guthrie, D. (2011). Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in three-through six year-old children: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 52(8), 853–860. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02354.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Schottelkorb, A. A., Doumas, D. M., & Garcia, R. (2012). Treatment for childhood refugee trauma: A randomized, controlled trial. International Journal of Play Therapy, 21, 57–73. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seidler, G. H. & Wagner, F. E. (2006). Comparing the efficacy of EMDR and trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of PTSD: A meta-analytic study. Psychological Medicine, 36(11), 1515–1522. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291706007963.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, F. (1989a). Efficacy of the eye movement desensitization procedure in the treatment of traumatic memories. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2(2), 199–223. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.2490020207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, F. (1989b). Eye movement desensitization: A new treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 20(3), 211–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7916(89)90025-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, F. (2007). EMDR, adaptive information processing, and case conceptualization. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 1(2), 68–87. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.1.2.68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, W. K., Ortiz, C. D., Viswesvaran, C., Burns, B. J., Kolko, D. J., Putnam, F. W., & Amaya-Jackson, L. (2008). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 37(1), 156–183. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374410701818293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Smith, P., Yule, W., Perrin, S., Tranah, T., Dagleish, T., & Clark, D. M. (2007). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for PTSD in children and adolescents: A preliminary randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 46(8), 1051–1061. https://doi.org/10.1097/CHI.0b013e318067e288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spinhoven, P., Slee, N., Garnefski, N., & Arensman, E. (2009). Childhood sexual abuse differentially predicts outcome of cognitive-behavioral therapy for deliberate self-harm. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 197(6), 455–457. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181a620c8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tinker, R. H., & Wilson, S. A. (1999). Through the eyes of a child: EMDR with children. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Kolk, B. A. (2005). Developmental trauma disorder: Toward a rational diagnosis for children with complex trauma histories. Psychiatric Annals, 35, 401–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • *Wadaa, N. N., Zaharim, N. M., & Alqashan, H. F. (2010). The use of EMDR in treatment of traumatized Iraqi children. DOMES: Digest of Middle East Studies, 19(1), 26–36. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1949-3606.2010.00003.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, D. A., Schneider, A., & Lyons, J. S. (2009). Evidence-based treatments for trauma among culturally diverse foster care youth: Treatment retention and outcomes. Children and Youth Services Review, 31(11), 1199–1205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2009.08.013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2013). Guidelines for the management of conditions specifically related to stress. Geneva: WHO.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would first like to posthumously thank our professor, advisor, mentor, and co-author, Dr. Siobhan K. O’Toole, for her guidance and tutelage, as well as sharing with us her passion for meta-analysis. The authors would like to thank Jennie L. Bedsworth, LCSW, who serves as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Missouri, for her knowledge and expertise in trauma-focused therapies for vulnerable populations that have significantly informed our discussion for this research endeavor. And finally, the authors would like to thank Colt J. Blunt, Psy.D., L.P., for his thoughtful editing of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Psychology Department, California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, 5130 E. Clinton Way, Fresno, CA, 93727, USA

    Jennifer H. Lewey, Brandi Burcham, Nia L. Saunders, Dina Elfallal & Siobhan K. O’Toole

  2. Direct Care and Treatment - Forensic Services (DCT-FS), Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), St. Peter, MN, USA

    Jennifer H. Lewey

  3. Clinical Psychology Department, California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Christopher L. Smith

  4. Youth Opportunities Upheld, Inc. (YOU, Inc.), Worchester, MA, USA

    Christopher L. Smith

Authors
  1. Jennifer H. Lewey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christopher L. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Brandi Burcham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nia L. Saunders
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dina Elfallal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Siobhan K. O’Toole
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer H. Lewey.

Ethics declarations

Disclosure of Interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical Standards and Informed Consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation [institutional and national] and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000.

Additional information

Siobhan K. O’Toole is recognized for her authorship posthumously.

The first author delineates that this article and included views and research findings are the author’s own and are in no way affiliated with Minnesota Department of Human Services, Direct Care and Treatment – Forensic Services.

Appendices

Appendix

Table 5 Comprehensive List of All Databases Used in the Meta-Analysis
Full size table

Appendix

Table 6 Comprehensive List of Measures from Included Studies
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lewey, J.H., Smith, C.L., Burcham, B. et al. Comparing the Effectiveness of EMDR and TF-CBT for Children and Adolescents: a Meta-Analysis. Journ Child Adol Trauma 11, 457–472 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-018-0212-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-018-0212-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation