Article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of eye movement
desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) on the phantom limb pain (PLP) of
patients with amputations within a 24-month follow-up.
This study was a
randomized-controlled trial.
A total of 60 patients with amputations were
selected by a purposive sampling and patients were divided randomly into two
experimental and control groups. Samples were assigned through randomized
allocation. EMDR therapy was administered individually to the experimental group
participants in 12 one-hour sessions over a 1-month period In each session, the
patient completed the Subjective Units of Distress Scale and a pain-rating scale
before and after the intervention. Follow-up measures were obtained 24 months
later for the experimental group. The participants in the control group were
measured on the two scales at an initial session and again after 1- and 24-month
follow-up. The mean PLP decreased in the experimental group between the first and
last sessions and remained so at a 24-month follow-up. No decrease occurred for
the control group over the 1- and 24-month period. The differences were
statistically significant (P<0.001) according to a repeated-measures analysis of
variance. EMDR therapy proved to be a successful treatment for PLP. Because of
its efficacy and the fact that the positive effects were maintained at the
24-month follow-up, this therapy is recommended for the treatment of PLP.

Langue : ANGLAIS