Is EMDR an Alternative Therapy for Adolescents With Social Anxiety Disorder?

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy (EMDR) in Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD).MethodThe 12th-week follow-up study sample consisted of 26 adolescents, aged 12 to 16 years. Participants were screened with the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL). Additionally, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale - Child Version (RCADS-CV), and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) were administered at baseline, 4th week, and 12th week. The Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI-I) and Severity (CGI-S), and SUD scales were also used. After two initial interviews, weekly EMDR sessions were conducted over 12 weeks.ResultsThe baseline mean of total BAI scores decreased from 48.35 to 2.58; the social anxiety sub-scale of RCADS-CV decreased from 20.65 to 1.84, and the baseline mean of LSAS decreased from 147 to 48.65 at the end of the 12th week of treatment. After the 12th week of EMDR, all the adolescents showed complete improvement. The findings showed that the social anxiety symptoms significantly decreased with EMDR therapy.ConclusionIt can be said that EMDR is an effective psychotherapy in reducing the severity of social anxiety in adolescents.