Post-Earthquake Rehabilitation of Clinical PTSD in Haitian Seminarians

Gurret, J. M., Caufour, C., Palmer-Hoffman, J., & Church, D. (2012). Post-Earthquake Rehabilitation of Clinical PTSD in Haitian Seminarians. Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 4(2), 33-40. doi: 10.9769/EPJ.2012.4.2.JPH

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Abstract:

Introduction

Seventy-seven male Haitian seminarians following the 2010 earthquake were assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using the PTSD Checklist (PCL).

Method

Forty-eight (62%) exhibited scores in the clinical range (> 49). The mean score of the entire sample was 54. Participants received 2 days of instruction in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).

Results

Following the EFT training, 0% of participants scored in the clinical range on the PCL. A paired t-test analysis of the pre–post PCL scores indicated a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.001), to a mean of 27 at the posttest. Posttest PCL scores decreased an average of 72%, ranging between a 21% reduction to a 100% reduction in symptom severity.

Conclusions

These results are consistent with other published reports of EFT’s efficacy in treating PTSD symptoms in traumatized populations, such as war veterans and genocide survivors.