Effects of "Visual Schema Displacement Therapy" (VSDT), an abbreviated EMDR protocol and a control condition on emotionality and vividness of aversive memories: Two critical analogue studies

Suzy J M A Matthijssen; Lucinda M van Beerschoten; Ad de Jongh; Irene G Klugkist; Marcel A van den Hout

doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.11.006

Effects of "Visual Schema Displacement Therapy" (VSDT), an abbreviated EMDR protocol and a control condition on emotionality and vividness of aversive memories: Two critical analogue studies

J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2019 Jun:63:48-56. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.11.006. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Authors

Suzy J M A Matthijssen¹, Lucinda M van Beerschoten², Ad de Jongh³, Irene G Klugkist⁴, Marcel A van den Hout⁵

Affiliations

¹ Altrecht Academic Anxiety Centre, Altrecht GGz, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: s.matthijssen@altrecht.nl.
² Stichting Elisabeth, Breda, the Netherlands; Careyn, Maarssen, the Netherlands.
³ PSYTREC, Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands; School of Health Sciences, Salford University, Manchester, United Kingdom; Institute of Health and Society, University of Worcester, United Kingdom.
⁴ Methodology and Statistics of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Research Methodology, Measurement and Data Analysis of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences, Twente University, Enschede, the Netherlands.
⁵ Altrecht Academic Anxiety Centre, Altrecht GGz, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

PMID: 30514434
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.11.006

Abstract

Background and objectives: Visual Schema Displacement Therapy (VSDT) is a novel therapy which has been described as a treatment for stress and dysfunction caused by a traumatic event. Although its developers claim this therapy is quicker and more beneficial than other forms of trauma therapy, its effectiveness has not been tested.

Methods: We compared the efficacy of VSDT to an abbreviated EMDR protocol and a non-active control condition (CC) in two studies. In Study 1 participants (N = 30) were asked to recall three negative emotional memories under three conditions: VSDT, EMDR, and a CC, each lasting 8 min. Emotional disturbance and vividness of the memories were rated before and after the (within group) conditions. The experiment was replicated using a between group study. In Study 2 participants (N = 75) were assigned to one of the three conditions, and a follow-up after 6-8 days was added.

Results: In both studies VSDT and EMDR were superior to the CC in reducing emotional disturbance, and VSDT was superior to EMDR. VSDT and EMDR outperformed the CC in terms of reducing vividness.

Limitation: Results need to be replicated in clinical samples.

Conclusions: It is unclear how VSDT yields positive effects, but irrespective of its causal mechanisms, VSDT warrants clinical exploration.

Keywords: EMDR; PTSD; Trauma therapy; VSDT; Visual Schema Displacement therapy.

Publication types

Controlled Clinical Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bayes Theorem
Emotions*
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing / methods*
Female
Healthy Volunteers / psychology*
Humans
Male
Memory, Short-Term*
Mental Recall
Psychotherapy / methods*
Young Adult