EFT for PTSD

Stapleton P, Kip K, Church D, Toussaint L, Footman J, Ballantyne P and O’Keefe T (2023).
Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.
Front. Psychol. 14:1195286.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1195286

The publication presents a systematic review of studies on EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) for PTSD, demonstrating its effectiveness as a modality for addressing PTSD symptoms. Here are some of the key takeaways:

1. The rigorous method identified 6 eligible clinical studies for meta-analysis: 3 studies compared EFT to Treatment As Usual or waitlist control, and 3 studies compared EFT to active treatment controls such as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), or Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).

2. Clinical EFT produces greater reduction in PTSD symptoms than wait-list or “treatment-as-usual” control groups, with highly significant statistical difference (95% confidence interval: 1.62–2.49, p < 0.001). It also demonstrates symptom reductions similar to other evidence-based therapies, and large treatment effects (p = 0.13).

3. This underscores the importance of considering alternative modalities like EFT, which provide a holistic approach to healing and address both the emotional and physical aspects of trauma.