Empirical Evidence Supporting the Effectiveness of VSDT®

Research

Following the development of VSDT® in 1998 and the consistent demonstration of its clinical effectiveness across extensive casework and public outcomes, Nik & Eva Speakman were invited by leading professors in the Netherlands to undertake formal scientific and subsequent clinical investigation into the therapy’s efficacy.

Research

Scientific Studies & Clinical Trials

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Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry

"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" (S. Matthijssen et.al.; 2019)

"A randomized controlled dismantling study of Visual Schema Displacement Therapy (VSDT) vs an abbreviated EMDR protocol vs a non-active control condition in individuals with disturbing memories" (S. Matthijssen et.al.; 2021)

"Visual Schema Displacement Therapy versus Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy versus waitlist in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: results of a randomized clinical trial" (S. Matthijssen et.al.; 2024)

Research

In 2017, Professor Ad de Jongh of the University of Amsterdam and Dr Suzy Matthijssen of Utrecht University initiated formal research to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of VSDT®.

The first peer-reviewed research on VSDT® was published in 2019, comprising two analogue studies designed to rigorously evaluate its clinical impact.

The initial study employed a within-group design comparing VSDT®, EMDR, and a control condition. The second adopted a between-group design with follow-up assessments to examine durability of outcomes. Across both studies, VSDT® and EMDR were significantly more effective than the control condition in reducing emotional disturbance and memory vividness, with VSDT® demonstrating measurable advantages over EMDR on key outcome variables.

Subsequent investigations explored the underlying mechanisms of action, including counterconditioning processes and the role of arousal generated by unexpected therapeutic elements. At four-week follow-up, both VSDT® and EMDR maintained clinically meaningful gains, further supporting the stability and robustness of the treatment effects.