Abstract
Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is an evidence-based method that combines acupressure with elements drawn from cognitive and exposure therapies. The approach has been validated in more than 100 clinical trials. Its efficacy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been investigated in a variety of demographic groups including war veterans, victims of sexual violence, the spouses of PTSD sufferers, motor accident survivors, prisoners, hospital patients, adolescents, and survivors of natural and human-caused disasters. Meta-analyses of EFT for anxiety, depression, and PTSD indicate treatment effects that exceed those of both psychopharmacology and conventional psychotherapy. Studies of EFT in the treatment of PTSD show that (a) time frames for successful treatment generally range from four to 10 sessions; (b) group therapy sessions are effective; (c) comorbid conditions such as anxiety and depression improve simultaneously; (d) the risk of adverse events is low; (e) treatment produces physiological as well as psychological improvements; (f) patient gains persist over time; (g) the approach is cost-effective; (h) biomarkers such as stress hormones and genes are regulated; and (i) the method can be adapted to online and telemedicine applications. This paper recommends guidelines for the use of EFT in treating PTSD derived from the literature and a detailed practitioner survey. It has been reviewed by the major institutions providing training or supporting research in the method. The guidelines recommend a stepped-care model, with five treatment sessions for subclinical PTSD, 10 sessions for PTSD, and escalation to intensive psychotherapy or psychopharmacology or both for nonresponsive patients and those with developmental trauma. Group therapy, social support, apps, and online and telemedicine methods also contribute to a successful treatment plan.
Highlights
More than 70% of adults worldwide and seven million in the United States currently suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); up to thirty percent of people who have been in a war zone will develop the condition; and half will never reach out for professional help [1,2,3]
This paper examines Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) as a potentially highly effective treatment, and it presents PTSD treatment guidelines that were systematically derived from clinical trials and practitioner input
Most of the research into pharmacological treatments for PTSD has focused on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which have been found to produce a broad effect on PTSD symptoms, including reductions in avoidance behavior, hyperarousal, and intrusive re-experiencing of the event [21]
Summary
More than 70% of adults worldwide and seven million in the United States currently suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); up to thirty percent of people who have been in a war zone will develop the condition; and half will never reach out for professional help [1,2,3]. The average duration of PTSD for people who do not receive treatment is greater than five years; it is three years if they are receiving treatment; and mean symptom duration is considerably longer than previously recognized [2,4]. Both psychological and pharmacological interventions have been developed for treating the condition. Cognitive and exposure therapies have been effective, with symptom reduction being a reliable benefit, but in a review of studies conducted between 1980 and 2015 of cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure with military and veteran populations, two-thirds still met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD at the end of treatment [5]. This paper examines Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) as a potentially highly effective treatment, and it presents PTSD treatment guidelines that were systematically derived from clinical trials and practitioner input
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