Neural changes after Emotional Freedom Techniques treatment for chronic pain sufferers

Stapleton, Peta; Baumann, Oliver; O'Keefe, Tom; Bhuta, Sandeep

doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101653

Cited by 9 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Previous research indicates that compared to supportive interviews or psychoeducation, EFT reduces salivary cortisol levels [ 32 ]. Another study utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging, focusing on chronic pain sufferers, suggested that EFT influences brain areas associated with the modulating and catastrophizing of pain, thereby improving both pain intensity and related psychological symptoms [ 33 ]. Meta-analyses have identified EFT, which combines cognitive therapies from cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE) with acupoint tapping, with acupoint tapping being recognized as the active ingredient contributing to its effectiveness [ 34 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility of Emotional Freedom Techniques in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: a pilot study

Choi,

Kim,

Kwon

et al. 2024

J Pharmacopuncture

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Objectives Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental health condition, and techniques using sensory stimulation in processing traumatic memories have gained attention. The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a psychotherapy that combines tapping on acupoints with exposure to cognitive reframing. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of EFT as a treatment for PTSD by answering the following research questions 1) What is the compliance and completion rate of patients with PTSD with regard to EFT protocol? Is the dropout rate reasonable? 2) Is the effect size of EFT protocol for PTSD sufficient to justify a future trial? Methods Thirty participants diagnosed with PTSD were recruited. They received weekly EFT sessions for five weeks, in which they repeated a statement acknowledging the problem and accepting themselves while tapping the SI3 acupoint on the side of their hand. PTSD symptoms were evaluated using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) before and after the intervention. Results Of the 30 PTSD patients (mean age 34.1 ± 9.1, 80% female), 96.7% showed over 80% compliance to the EFT sessions, and 86.7% completed the entire study process. The mean PCL-5 total score decreased significantly after the intervention, with a large effect size (change from baseline –14.33 [95% CI –19.79, –8.86], p < 0.0001, d = 1.06). Conclusion The study suggests that EFT is a feasible treatment for PTSD, with high session compliance and low dropout rates. The effect size observed in this study supports the need for a larger trial in the future to further investigate EFT as a treatment for PTSD. However, the lack of a control group and the use of a self-rated questionnaire for PTSD symptoms are limitations of this study. The findings of this pilot study can be used to plan a future trial.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility of Emotional Freedom Techniques in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: a pilot study

Choi,

Kim,

Kwon

et al. 2024

J Pharmacopuncture

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“…While that body of research focused on acupuncture, two fMRI studies have tested this finding with EFT. One investigated the use of acupoint tapping to reduce food cravings in obese individuals (Stapleton et al, 2019); the other in treating chronic pain (Stapleton et al, 2022). In the food craving study, which is described in Feinstein (2023), blood flow to brain regions associated with cognition and reward was significantly reduced when images of desired foods were presented following acupoint tapping treatments for food cravings.…”

Section: Neural Changes Detected In Functional Magnetic Resonance Ima...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The real reasons energy psychology is proving to be durable: Rejoinder to “Acupressure in psychotherapy as an unsinkable rubber duck, reply to Feinstein (2023)”.

Feinstein

2024

Journal of Psychotherapy Integration

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“…A study conducted by 23 examined the effects of EFT on the brain and pain (and other factors) using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) pre and post intervention. This study not only reported decreased levels of pain, but also somatic symptoms, depression and anxiety.…”

Section: Emotional Freedom Technique and The Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): Tap to relieve stress and burnout

Blacher

2023

Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice

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Neural changes after Emotional Freedom Techniques treatment for chronic pain sufferers

Cited by 9 publications

References 58 publications

Feasibility of Emotional Freedom Techniques in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: a pilot study

Feasibility of Emotional Freedom Techniques in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: a pilot study

The real reasons energy psychology is proving to be durable: Rejoinder to “Acupressure in psychotherapy as an unsinkable rubber duck, reply to Feinstein (2023)”.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): Tap to relieve stress and burnout

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