The effect of manipulated outcome expectancy on the effectivity of an online analogue of EMDR therapy

Abstract

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy that has been researched thoroughly over the last decades. Proposed specific working mechanisms of EMDR therapy, like the working memory theory, remain a topic of debate within the scientific community. It is therefore pressing to investigate possible common or nonspecific factors influencing EMDR therapy. Above all since research into this topic is limited. Our study tried to experimentally manipulate the outcome expectancy of participants (N= 133) while using an online analogue of EMDR therapy, since e-health interventions are on the rise and proven effective for other forms of psychopathology and research into this subject is, to our knowledge, nonexistent. Preliminary evidence for the effectivity of an online analogue of EMDR therapy was found. Clinical application of an online version of EMDR could be innovative. The effects of outcome expectations proved difficult to examine since experimental manipulation did not provide significant results, but results were in line with previous studies. Future studies should focus on finding an effective way of inducing outcome expectations. Limitations of the current study are discussed.