EFT Research: important findings to date
Whilst there are countless anecdotal examples of Energy Therapies producing extraordinary results, until recently scientific validation has not been available. Now, however, thorough research studies into EFT and energy psychology are being carried out worldwide and some excellent results are being reported. The following are important findings to date, further research will be added as it comes through.
Preliminary report of the first largescale study of Energy Psychology
by Joaquin Andrade MD and David Feinstein PhD
Summary
In preliminary clinical trials involving more than 29,000 patients from 11 allied
treatment centres in South America during a 14-year period, a variety of randomized,
double-blind pilot studies were conducted. In one of these, approximately 5,000
patients diagnosed at intake with an anxiety disorder were randomly assigned
to an experimental group (tapping) or a control group (Cognitive Behavior Therapy/medication)
using standard randomization tables and, later, computerized software. Ratings
were given by independent clinicians who interviewed each patient at the close
of therapy, at 1 month, at 3 months, at 6 months, and at 12 months. The raters
made a determination of complete remission of symptoms, partial remission of
symptoms, or no clinical response. The raters did not know if the patient received
CBT/medication or tapping. They knew only the initial diagnosis, the symptoms,
and the severity, as judged by the intake staff.
At the close of therapy:
63% of the control group were judged as having improved
90% of the experimental group were judged as having improved
51% of the control group were judged as being symptom free
76% of the experimental group were judged as symptom free
At one-year follow-up, the patients receiving tapping treatments were less prone
to relapse or partial relapse than those receiving CBT/medication, as indicated
by the independent raters' assessments and corroborated by brain imaging and neurotransmitter profiles. In a related pilot study by the same team, the length of treatment was substantially shorter with energy therapy and related methods than with CBT/medication (mean = 3 sessions vs. mean = 15 sessions).
If subsequent research corroborates these early findings, it will be a notable development since CBT/medication is currently the established standard of care for anxiety disorders and the greater effectiveness of the energy approach suggested by this study would be highly significant. The preliminary nature of these findings must, however, be emphasized. The study was initially envisioned as an in-house assessment of a new method and was not designed with publication in mind. Not all the variables that need to be controlled in robust research were tracked, not all criteria were defined with rigorous precision, the record-keeping was relatively informal, and source data were not always maintained. Nonetheless, the studies all used randomized samples, control groups, and double blind assessment. The findings were so striking that the team decided to report them.
The principal investigator was Joaquín Andrade, M.D. The report was written
by Dr. Andrade and David Feinstein, Ph.D. The paper will appear in Energy
Psychology Interactive: An Integrated Book and CD Program for Learning the
Fundamentals of Energy Psychology (Ashland, OR: Innersource, in press, distributed
by Norton Professional Books) by David Feinstein in consultation with Fred
P. Gallo, Donna Eden, and the Energy Psychology Interactive Advisory Board.
Phobias
An excellent study by psychologist Steve Wells and his associates in Australia and the United States studied the effects of EFT on phobias of small animals and insects. This study is published in a leading peer reviewed journal, the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
The results of the study are impressive. Those subjects who had learned EFT, as compared to those in a comparison group who had learned a deep breathing method, showed significantly greater reduction in their fear of small animals and insects - both in terms of their ability to approach the feared animal after the treatment, and their self reported indexes of fear. What is more, these results held up just as well six to nine months later as they did at the time of the treatment, showing that the results of EFT are lasting - an important consideration.
The deep breathing group improved also in their symptoms, but significantly less so. All told, this careful study represents a strong confirmation of EFT as a treatment for phobias and common fears.
Wells, S., Polglase, K., Andrews, H.B., Carrington, P., & Baker,
A.H. (2003). Evaluation of a Meridian Based Intervention, Emotional Freedom
Techniques (EFT), for Reducing Specific Phobias of Small Animals. Journal of
Clinical Psychology, Vol. 59(9), 943-966
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Research conducted by Dr. Paul Swingle and his colleagues, studied the effects of EFT on auto accident victims suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - an extremely disabling conditioning that involves unreasonable fears and often panic attacks, disabling physiological symptoms of stress, nightmares, flashbacks etc. These researchers found that three months after they had learned EFT (in two sessions) these auto accident victims showed significant positive changes in their brain waves and in self-reported symptoms of stress.
Swingle, P., Pulos, L., & Swingle, M. (May, 2000). Effects
of a meridian-based therapy, EFT, on symptoms of PTSD in auto accident victims.
Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Comprehensive
Energy Psychology, Las Vegas, NV.
Epilepsy
Another study by Dr. Swingle used EFT as a treatment for children diagnosed with epilepsy. The children were administered EFT by their parents every time each day that the parents suspected a seizure might occur. Swingle found significant reductions in seizure frequency among these very young children, as well as extensive clinical improvement in the children's EEG readings after exposure to two weeks of daily in-home EFT treatment, an impressive result. This study has not yet been written up but can be cited as follows:
Swingle, P. (May, 2000). Effects of the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) method on seizure frequency in children diagnosed with epilepsy. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology, Las Vegas, NV.
