The comment on the American Psychiatric Association Guidelines cited by Marssociety refers to prevention of PTSD and acute stress which there is considerable controversy over what works.

However this comment has been confused with what the guidelines say about treatment of PTSD. On the same page as the quote (p14), and just 3 sentences latter the guidelines report that EMDR is effective as a treatment for core symptoms of both acute and chronic PTSD.

The misunderstanding is due to confusing prevention interventions with treatments. Other interantional guidelines that assert that EMDR is science based practice for treatment of PTSD are from the United Kingdom by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (2005) and in Australia by the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health (2007).


National Institute for Clinical Excellence (2005). Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): The management of adults and children in primary and secondary care. London: NICE Guidelines.

Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health (2007). Australian guidelines for the treatment of adults with acute stress disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. ACPTMH, Melbourne, Victoria

Dr Chris Lee