Eye Movement Therapies, Purple Hats, and the Sagan Standard by Gerald M. Rosen and Loren Pankratz

Gerald Rosen and Loren Pankratz critique the popular therapy Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), initially developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980s. The authors argue that while EMDR is now endorsed by many as an effective treatment for PTSD, it remains scientifically unsubstantiated, with its central technique—eye movements—lacking proven therapeutic value. They compare EMDR to "purple hat therapy," a metaphor for treatments that combine effective components with pseudoscientific elements. The article calls for more rigorous evidence and adherence to scientific standards to assess therapeutic claims. Read this article and find accompanying references at:  https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/08/eye-movement-therapies-purple-hats-and-the-sagan-standard/ About the Authors: Gerald M. Rosen, PhD, is retired from his private practice and continues as a clinical professor emeritus with the Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle. He has published articles on various issues of concern to psychology, including self-help books, problems with PTSD as a diagnostic construct, vanity certification credentials, and novel therapies such as EMDR. He coedited the book Clinician’s Guide to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Loren Pankratz, PhD, was a consultation psychologist at the Portland VA Medical Center and professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Oregon Health Sciences University. He maintained a forensic practice after retirement but now is focused on writing and collecting books on the history of deception. He is author of the book Mysteries and Secrets Revealed: From Oracles at Delphi to Spiritualism in America and is a CSI fellow. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.