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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for adult posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Adult Mental Health: Trauma
Benefit-cost methods last updated December 2024.  Literature review updated September 2016.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychological treatment commonly used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder. During treatment, clients focus on the traumatic memory for 30 seconds at a time while the therapist provides a stimulus. For most clients, the therapist moves a hand slowly back and forth in front of the client (eye movement) but other stimuli may be used. Clients report on what thoughts come up and are guided to refocus on that thought in the next stimulus session. During therapy visits, clients report the level of distress they feel. In later phases, a positive thought is emphasized during the stimulus sessions. Afterward, clients are asked to focus on residual physical tensions they may feel in order to enhance relaxation. A more complete description of this therapy is available at: http://www.emdrnetwork.org/description.html

We evaluated studies where EMDR was used in the treatment of PTSD confirmed by a diagnosis using the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Studies consisted of patients with a variety of traumatic experiences, including combat, sexual abuse or assault, physical or emotional abuse, accidents, and war or disaster experiences. We only included studies where EMDR was compared to a control condition receiving treatment as usual, which consisted of standard care or a wait list for care. One study was included in which patients had comorbid psychosis disorder. Patients in the studies received between two and twelve total sessions of EMDR.
 
ALL
BENEFIT-COST
META-ANALYSIS
CITATIONS
For an overview of WSIPP's Benefit-Cost Model, please see this guide. The estimates shown are present value, life cycle benefits and costs. All dollars are expressed in the base year chosen for this analysis (2023).  The chance the benefits exceed the costs are derived from a Monte Carlo risk analysis. The details on this, as well as the economic discount rates and other relevant parameters are described in our Technical Documentation.
Benefit-Cost Summary Statistics Per Participant
Benefits to:
Taxpayers $18,211 Benefits minus costs $58,644
Participants $33,751 Benefit to cost ratio $681.66
Others $4,554 Chance the program will produce
Indirect $2,214 benefits greater than the costs 100%
Total benefits $58,731
Net program cost ($86)
Benefits minus cost $58,644

^WSIPP’s benefit-cost model does not monetize this outcome.

Meta-analysis is a statistical method to combine the results from separate studies on a program, policy, or topic to estimate its effect on an outcome. WSIPP systematically evaluates all credible evaluations we can locate on each topic. The outcomes measured are the program impacts measured in the research literature (for example, impacts on crime or educational attainment). Treatment N represents the total number of individuals or units in the treatment group across the included studies.

An effect size (ES) is a standard metric that summarizes the degree to which a program or policy affects a measured outcome. If the effect size is positive, the outcome increases. If the effect size is negative, the outcome decreases. See Estimating Program Effects Using Effect Sizes for additional information on how we estimate effect sizes.

The effect size may be adjusted from the unadjusted effect size estimated in the meta-analysis. Historically, WSIPP adjusted effect sizes to some programs based on the methodological characteristics of the study. For programs reviewed in 2024 or later, we do not make additional adjustments, and we use the unadjusted effect size whenever we run a benefit-cost analysis.

Research shows the magnitude of effects may change over time. For those effect sizes, we estimate outcome-based adjustments, which we apply between the first time ES is estimated and the second time ES is estimated. More details about these adjustments can be found in our Technical Documentation.

Meta-Analysis of Program Effects
Outcomes measured Treatment age No. of effect sizes Treatment N Effect sizes (ES) and standard errors (SE) used in the benefit-cost analysis Unadjusted effect size (random effects model)
First time ES is estimated Second time ES is estimated
ES SE Age ES SE Age ES p-value
Anxiety disorder
Clinical diagnosis of an anxiety disorder (e.g., general anxiety, panic, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder) or symptoms measured on a validated scale.
 40 4 72 -0.305 0.207 41 -0.305 0.207 42 -0.659 0.009
Major depressive disorder
Clinical diagnosis of major depression or symptoms measured on a validated scale.
 40 6 111 -0.333 0.157 41 -0.333 0.157 42 -0.333 0.001
Global functioning^
How well individuals (typically those who are developmentally disabled or seriously mentally ill) have adapted to activities of daily living.
 40 2 42 0.201 0.281 41 n/a n/a n/a 0.613 0.362
Post-traumatic stress
Clinical diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or symptoms measured on a validated scale.
 40 11 224 -0.460 0.134 41 -0.460 0.134 42 -0.730 0.001
1In addition to the outcomes measured in the meta-analysis table, WSIPP measures benefits and costs estimated from other outcomes associated with those reported in the evaluation literature. For example, empirical research demonstrates that high school graduation leads to reduced crime. These associated measures provide a more complete picture of the detailed costs and benefits of the program.

2“Others” includes benefits to people other than taxpayers and participants. Depending on the program, it could include reductions in crime victimization, the economic benefits from a more educated workforce, and the benefits from employer-paid health insurance.

3“Indirect benefits” includes estimates of the net changes in the value of a statistical life and net changes in the deadweight costs of taxation.
Detailed Monetary Benefit Estimates Per Participant
Affected outcome: Resulting benefits:1 Benefits accrue to:
Taxpayers Participants Others2 Indirect3 Total
Major depressive disorder Mortality associated with depression $2 $4 $0 $51 $56
Post-traumatic stress Labor market earnings associated with PTSD $13,796 $32,500 $0 $0 $46,296
Health care associated with PTSD $4,413 $1,248 $4,554 $2,206 $12,421
Program cost Adjustment for deadweight cost of program $0 $0 $0 ($43) ($43)
Totals $18,211 $33,751 $4,554 $2,214 $58,731
Click here to see populations selected
Detailed Annual Cost Estimates Per Participant
Annual cost Year dollars Summary
Program costs $974 2014 Present value of net program costs (in 2023 dollars) ($86)
Comparison costs $830 2008 Cost range (+ or -) 10%
Per-participant costs for EMDR are estimated based on the average hours of therapy reported in the studies (7.96) and the rate for individual therapy for non-disabled adults reported in Mercer (2013) Behavioral Health Data Book for the State of Washington For Rates Effective January 1, 2014. The comparison group costs are from the average Medicaid expenditures for PTSD treatment in Washington in 2014.
The figures shown are estimates of the costs to implement programs in Washington. The comparison group costs reflect either no treatment or treatment as usual, depending on how effect sizes were calculated in the meta-analysis. The cost range reported above reflects potential variation or uncertainty in the cost estimate; more detail can be found in our Technical Documentation.
Benefits Minus Costs
Benefits by Perspective
Taxpayer Benefits by Source of Value
Benefits Minus Costs Over Time (Cumulative Discounted Dollars)
The graph above illustrates the estimated cumulative net benefits per-participant for the first fifty years beyond the initial investment in the program. We present these cash flows in discounted dollars. If the dollars are negative (bars below $0 line), the cumulative benefits do not outweigh the cost of the program up to that point in time. The program breaks even when the dollars reach $0. At this point, the total benefits to participants, taxpayers, and others, are equal to the cost of the program. If the dollars are above $0, the benefits of the program exceed the initial investment.

Citations Used in the Meta-Analysis

Boudewyns, P.A., Stwertka, S.A., Hyer, L.A., Albrecht, J.W., & Sperr, E.V. (1993). Eye movement desensitization for PTSD of combat: A treatment outcome pilot study. The Behavior Therapist, 16(2), 29-33.

Carlson, J.G., Chemtob, C.M., Rusnak, K., Hedlund, N.L., & Muraoka, M.Y. (1998). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EDMR) treatment for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 11(1), 3-24.

Högberg, G., Pagani, M., Sundin, O., Soares, J., Åberg-Wistedt, A., Tärnell, B., & Hällström, T. (2007). On treatment with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing of chronic post-traumatic stress disorder in public transportation workers—A randomized controlled trial. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 61(1), 54-61.

Jensen, J.A. (1994). An investigation of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMD/R) as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms of Vietnam combat veterans. Behavior Therapy, 25(2), 311-325.

Johnson, D.R., & Lubin, H. (2006). The counting method: Applying the rule of parsimony to the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Traumatology, 12(1), 83-99.

Marcus, S.V., Marquis, P., & Sakai, C. (1997). Controlled study of treatment of PTSD using EMDR in an HMO setting. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 34(3), 307-315.

Rothbaum, B.O., Austin, M.C., & Marsteller, F. (2005). Prolonged exposure versus eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for PTSD rape victims. Journal of Traumatic Stress: Publ. for the Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, 18(6), 607-616.

Rothbaum, B.O. (1997). Acontrolled study of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disordered sexual assault victims. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 61(3), 317-334.

Taylor, S., Thordarson, D.S., Maxfield, L., Fedoroff, I.C., Lovell, K., & Ogrodniczuk, J. (2003). Comparative efficacy, speed, and adverse effects of three PTSD treatments: exposure therapy, EMDR, and relaxation training. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71(2), 330-338.

van den Berg, D.P.G., de Bont, P.A.J.M, Berber M.v.d.V, de Roos, C., de Jongh, A., Van Minnen, A., & van der Gaag, M. (2015). Prolonged exposure vs eye movement desensitization and reprocessing vs waiting list for posttraumatic stress disorder in patients with a psychotic disorder: a randomized clinical trial. Jama Psychiatry, 72(3), 259-67.

van der Kolk, B.A., Spinazzola, J., Blaustein, M.E., Hopper, J.W., Hopper, E.K., Korn, D.L., & Simpson, W.B. (2007). A randomized clinical trial of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), fluoxetine, and pill placebo in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: treatment effects and long-term maintenance. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 68(1), 37-46.