PTSD & Trauma

This article proposes a conceptual framework for understanding the active ingredients and mechanisms underlying Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), a mind-body therapy used for trauma and stress-related conditions. EFT combines cognitive, somatic, and exposure elements, and its effectiveness is supported by over 200 studies, including randomized controlled trials.

Energy psychology protocols like EFT tapping have shown efficacy in treating PTSD, anxiety, and depression, with over 200 clinical trials supporting their use. Research reveals tapping generates electrochemical signals, modulating brain regions and biomarkers, making it a non-placebo treatment component.

A meta-analysis of 13 studies found that Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) significantly reduced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, with effects lasting up to three months. EFT was particularly effective in treating PTSD symptoms in veterans, suggesting its potential as a non-pharmacological treatment for trauma.

A pilot study of 30 Korean patients with PTSD found that Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), a form of therapy involving acupoint tapping, had high session compliance and low dropout rates, with a significant decrease in PTSD symptoms and a large effect size. The study suggests that EFT may be a feasible treatment for PTSD, but further research with a control group is needed to confirm these findings and explore its long-term efficacy.

This systematic literature review examines the impact of Spiritual Emotional Freedom Technique (SEFT) on patients' psychological well-being. The findings indicate that SEFT effectively enhances psychological well-being by addressing stress levels and promoting positive emotional states, suggesting its potential use in clinical practice for patient care.

This article reviews research on Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), a method that involves tapping on specific body points. It found that EFT shows promise in helping military veterans recover from trauma and PTSD, reducing symptoms and improving emotional well-being. More research is needed to confirm its benefits and determine the best way to use it.

This literature review examines the use of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) as an intervention to reduce anxiety in patients with open wounds. The findings suggest that EFT is effective in decreasing anxiety levels, providing a non-invasive and accessible method to enhance emotional well-being during recovery. Further research is recommended to validate EFT's efficacy in clinical settings.

The study compared Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with various psychological treatments, including Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), for PTSD. It concluded that there was no significant difference in effectiveness between EMDR and other therapies like EFT in reducing PTSD symptoms, achieving remission, or minimizing treatment dropouts. Both approaches were found to improve PTSD symptoms compared to baseline.

This pilot study explored the feasibility of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) as a treatment for PTSD, assessing compliance, dropout rates, and effect size. With high session compliance (96.7%), low dropout rates (86.7% completion), and significant symptom reduction (large effect size, d = 1.06), EFT appears promising. However, the absence of a control group and reliance on self-rated measures are limitations, highlighting the need for larger, more rigorous trials.

This study explored the use of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The findings indicate that EFT, when combined with Cognitive Behavioral Theory, can enhance emotion regulation skills and therapeutic outcomes for CSA survivors.

This science paper describes the development of a manual for disaster medical support using Korean medicine (KM) to provide prompt, effective, and long-term support for disaster survivors. The manual includes KM treatment protocols for psychological and physical symptoms, such as ear acupuncture, herbal medicine, breathing relaxation, stabilization techniques, emotional freedom technique, and self-care methods.

This clinical note outlines the Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT) and its effectiveness in treating trauma in a single session. The study found significant reductions in subjective units of distress among clients after one TTT session.

This study intended to measure the effectiveness of EFT in changing money attitudes and to contrast EFT's effects delivered virtually or in-person by evaluating multiple markers of stress, including anxiety, depression, pain, happiness, and PTSD. The findings point toward EFT's potential to improve money attitudes as well as psychological symptoms and indicated that EFT can be effective when delivered virtually.

This quasi-experimental study in Tabriz, Iran, compared the effectiveness of EMDR, EFT, and CBT in treating PTSD among 48 female COVID-19 survivors, revealing that all three therapies significantly reduced PTSD symptoms. Notably, EMDR was more effective than CBT and EFT, showing the greatest reduction in post-test PTSD scores.

This systematic review and meta-analysis highlights Clinical EFT's robust efficacy for PTSD. Clinical EFT is a standardised protocol that combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and prolonged exposure therapy (PE) techniques with acupressure tapping. It incorporates both cognitive reframing and somatic stimulation (tapping on specific acupoints), aiming to reduce PTSD symptoms.