Science and Research: 2016

Food For Thought: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Emotional Freedom Techniques and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the Treatment of Food Cravings

Filed Under: 2016, Bannatyne, A, Randomized Controlled Trials, Sheldon, T, Stapleton, P, Urzi, K-C

Addressing the internal determinants of dysfunctional eating behaviours (e.g. food cravings) in the prevention and treatment of obesity has been increasingly recognised. This study compared Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for food cravings in adults who were overweight or obese (N = 83) in an 8‐week intervention. Outcome data were collected at baseline, post‐intervention, and at 6‐ and 12‐months follow‐up. Overall, EFT and CBT demonstrated comparable efficacy in reducing food cravings, one’s responsiveness to food in the environment (power of food), and dietary restraint, with Cohen’s effect size values suggesting moderate to high practical significance for both interventions…

Pain, Range of Motion, and Psychological Symptoms in a Population with Frozen Shoulder: A Randomized Controlled Dismantling Study of Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)

Filed Under: 2016, Church, D, Nelms, J, Pain and Physical Conditions, Randomized Controlled Trials

The current study assesses whether acupoint stimulation is an active ingredient or whether treatment effects are due to nonspecific factors. Thirty-seven participants with “frozen shoulder” consisting of limited range of motion (ROM) and pain were randomized into a wait list, or 1 of 2 treatment groups.

Epigenetic Effects of PTSD Remediation in Veterans Using Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques): A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Filed Under: 2016, Church, D, Fox, L, Nelms, J, Pilot Studies, Rachlin, K, Randomized Controlled Trials, Yount, G

The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility of measuring changes in gene expression associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment using emotional freedom techniques (EFT). Participants were randomized into an EFT group receiving EFT and treatment as usual (TAU) throughout a 10-week intervention period and a group receiving only TAU during the intervention period and then receiving EFT. A community clinic and a research institute in California. Participants: Sixteen veterans with clinical levels of PTSD symptoms…

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Remediates PTSD and Psychological Symptoms in Veterans: A Randomized Controlled Replication Trial

Filed Under: 2016, Clond, M, Geronilla, L, McWilliams, M, Minewiser, L, Mollon, P, Randomized Controlled Trials

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common condition among veterans and is often regarded as treatment-resistant… Psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression declined significantly, as did physiological markers of insomnia and pain. An effect size of Cohen’s d = 3.44 indicates a large treatment effect. These results replicate those obtained in an earlier investigation, and indicate that EFT is an evidence-based practice that is highly effective at reducing symptom severity in veterans with PTSD.

The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotional Freedom Techniques in Reducing Depression and Anxiety Among Adults: A Pilot Study

Filed Under: 2016, Anxiety, Chatwin, H, Depression, Devine, S, Pilot Studies, Porter, B, Sheldon, T, Stapleton, P

Must log-in to Integrative Medicine – A Clinician’s Journal to read highlights, abstract and full study

The Effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on Stress and Anxiety in Nursing Students: A Pilot Study

Filed Under: 2016, Anxiety, Nursing, Patterson, S L, Pilot Studies

Nursing students experience considerable stress and anxiety in their education. Emotional freedom technique (EFT) has been shown to decrease perceived anxiety in many groups.

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for Anxiety: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Filed Under: 2016, Anxiety, Clond, M, Meta-Analyses, Research Reviews

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) combines elements of exposure and cognitive therapies with acupressure for the treatment of psychological distress. Randomized controlled trials retrieved by literature search were assessed for quality using the criteria developed by the American Psychological Association’s Division 12 Task Force on Empirically Validated Treatments. As of December 2015, 14 studies (n = 658) met inclusion criteria.

Neuroception and What Happens When Our Warning System is Mis-Programmed

Filed Under: 2016, EFT Research Perspectives, Weiner, C

Theoretically, methods like EFT tapping, especially an exercise like the Personal Peace Procedure, would lower the number of and strength of neuroceptive triggers that can throw a person off into maladaptive responses and reactions in a wide variety of life situations.

Looking to Science to Explain the Effectiveness of EFT Tapping

Filed Under: 2016, EFT Research Perspectives, Fibromyalgia, Weiner, C

EFT’s effectiveness with such a wide variety of conditions may be explained by how our brains and bodies respond to stressful and traumatic situations. If EFT can reduce the way that an individual’s nervous system and physiology respond to highly emotional situations, then he or she has a wider range of healthy emotional, cognitive and perhaps even physical responses to a wide array of challenging any number of challenging situations or conditions.