Emotional Freedom Technique

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Energy Psychology
The EFT logo
The EFT logo
Basic information
EFT Theory: "The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system"[1]
Energy meridians used
[2]
  • SI-3 - Small intestine
  • BL-2 - Bladder
  • GB-1 - Gall Blader
  • ST-1 - Stomach
  • GV-26 - Governing vessel
  • CV-24 - Conception vessel
  • KD-27 - Kidney
  • SP-21 - Spleen
  • LU-11 - Lung
  • LI-1 - Large Intestine
  • PC-9 - Pericardium
  • HT-9 - Heart
  • TH-3 - Triple Energise
Introduced to the public
1995[3]
Founder(s)
Gary Craig[3]

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is one of many therapies collectively known as Energy psychology. It is a form of alternative psychotherapy, that is based on a theory that negative emotions are caused by disturbances in the body's energy system and that tapping on acupuncture points while focusing on a specific traumatic memory balances the system, thereby neutralizing the negative emotion. Some studies, primarily published in the alternative medical literature, appear to show positive outcomes from use of the techniques, but another study has suggested that it may be indistinguishable from the placebo effect. Critics have described the theory behind EFT as pseudoscientific and have suggested that any utility stems from its more traditional cognitive components, such as distraction from negative thoughts, rather than from manipulation of supposed meridians.

Contents

[edit] Theory

The theory of EFT is that negative emotions are caused by disturbances in the body's energy field. EFT theory derives from similar beliefs held by those who practice acupuncture.[1]

[edit] Effectiveness

David Feinstein of the Energy Medicine Institute summarized 2,000 anecdotal reports from the official EFT website (emofree.com) as well more than 200 EFT sessions recorded on video, and argued that these support the idea that EFT is an effective treatment.[4] EFT has also been subject of 6 other published studies as of 2009.

A 2003 study, funded by the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology and published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, involved 35 patients with a phobia of small animals receiving a single session one of two treatments EFT (18 patients) and diaphragmatic breathing (17 patients). The EFT group produced better improvements in self-reports of anxiety and behavioural measures, but no improvement in heart rate.[5] Another 2003 study evaluated four groups of individuals with phobias - the first group involved participants tapping on points identified in the EFT manual, a second group who performed the same number of taps but on sham locations, a third group tapping the same points, but on an inanimate object (a doll), and a condition who performed an unrelated task (making a toy). The three tapping groups showed the same degree of improvement. The authors suggested that the test indicated there is no merit to the energy meridian theory of EFT, suggesting improvements due to EFT may be the result of systematic desensitization, distraction, demand characteristics and focus on breathing.[6]

Diagram of acupuncture points used by EFT

However a study conducted in the year 2005 evaluated the effectiveness of an EFT workshop on 102 participants. Using a time-series, the participants were tested 1 month before, at the beginning of the workshop, at the end of the workshop, 1 month after the workshop as a follow-up, and 6 months after the workshop as a second follow-up. According to Rowe there was a statistically significant decrease in all measures of psychological distress as measured by the SA-45 from pre-workshop to post-workshop which held up at the 6 month follow-up. However there was no control group involved in this study and it was only compared to cohorts.[7] The study's small sample size and lack of a control group have been criticized; Ben Goldacre, the author of the Bad Science column in The Guardian, argued that the study's shortcomings and poor design mean that no real conclusions can be drawn from it.[8] The efficacy of EFT was also studied in the same year, as another study evaluated the effectiveness of two sessions of EFT treatments on clients who were previously involved in a motor vehicle accident and reported traumatic stress associated with the accident. 8 males and 2 females participants were recruited from a newspaper advertisement calling for volunteers. All clients reported improvement immediately following treatment. Brainwave assessments before and after EFT treatment indicated that clients who sustained the benefit of the EFT treatments had increased 13-15 Hz amplitude over the sensory motor cortex, decreased right frontal cortex arousal and an increased 3-7 Hz / 16-25 Hz ratio in the occiput. [9]

In 2008 a randomized, controlled study published in the journal Integrative Medicine examined the effects of self-administered EFT on 86 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia and placed on sick leave for at least 3 months. These women were randomly assigned to a treatment group or a wait-listed group (control group). For those in the treatment group, an 8-week EFT treatment program was administered via the Internet. Upon completion of the program, statistically significant improvements were observed in the group using self-administered EFT in comparison with the wait-listed control group for variables such as pain, anxiety, depression, vitality, social function, mental health, performance problems involving work or other activities due to physical as well as emotional reasons, and stress symptoms. However, no difference in pain willingness between the groups was observed. Additionally, some of the subjects did not comply with the study's predesigned forms for measuring improvement, and instead wrote to the study authors informally about their experience with EFT. Therefore, it was impossible to illustrate the improvement curve in a graph. The author recommended further study.[10]

Dawson Church using EFT

An uncontrolled 2009 observational study using a within-subject design examined the effects of six sessions of EFT on seven veterans, assessed by a measure of cortisol levels and a well validated symptom assessment paper (SA-45) before and after treatment and again after a 90-day followup. This pilot study of Iraq and Vietnam veterans found that six sessions of EFT treatment resulted in statistically significant drops in participants’ levels of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress syndrome, and overall psychological distress. [11]

[edit] Criticism

EFT has been labeled pseudoscience in the Skeptical Inquirer, based on what the journal identifies as its lack of falsifiability, reliance on anecdotal evidence and aggressive promotion via the Internet.[12] Gary Craig, the originator of EFT, has argued that tapping anywhere on the body will manipulate "energy meridians". There are many pressure points used by acupuncturists not included in EFT methodology; tapping one such may have accidental effects, it is suggested, yet to be identified. Skeptics have asserted that such an argument renders EFT untestable by scientific method, and therefore a pseudoscience.[12] EFT's successes are also thought to stem from "characteristics it shares with more traditional therapies", rather than manipulation of supposed "energy meridians" via tapping. Testing of this hypothesis through the use of a placebo group produced the same positive changes in recipients as following the EFT's standard methodology.[6] A 2007 article in the Guardian suggested that the act of tapping parts of the body in a complicated sequence acts as a distraction, and therefore can appear to alleviate the root distress.[13]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Official Emotional Freedom Techniques Manual by Gary Craig
  2. ^ Energy meridian points in EFT
  3. ^ a b EFT Press Kit (A4)
  4. ^ "Energy Psychology: A review of the preliminary evidence". http://www.innersource.net/energy_psych/epi_research.htm. 
  5. ^ Wells S, Polglase K, Andrews H, Carrington P, Baker A (2003). "Evaluation of a meridian-based intervention, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), for reducing specific phobias of small animals". J Clin Psychol 59 (9): 943–66. doi:10.1002/jclp.10189. PMID 12945061. 
  6. ^ a b Waite WL & Holder MD (2003). "Assessment of the Emotional Freedom Technique: An Alternative Treatment for Fear". The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice 2 (1). http://www.srmhp.org/0201/emotional-freedom-technique.html. 
  7. ^ Rowe, JE (2005). The Effects of EFT on Long-Term Psychological Symptoms = journal = Counseling and Clinical Psychology. 2. pp. 104-111. ISSN 1545-4452. http://www.psychologicalpublishing.com/ccpj/contents/v2_i3.htm. 
  8. ^ Ben Goldacre (2008). Bad Science. New York: Fourth Estate. ISBN 0-00-724019-8. 
  9. ^ Swingle P; Pulos; Swingle M (2005). "Psychological Neurophysiological Indicators of EFT Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress". International Society for the study of Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine Journal 15 (1). http://www.issseem.org/storejournals_detail.cfm?articleid=203. 
  10. ^ Brattberg G (2008). "Self-administered EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) in Individuals With Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Trial". Integrative Medicine 7 (4). 
  11. ^ Church D; Geronilla L; Dinter I (2009). "Psychological symptom change in veterans after six sessions of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT): an observational study". The International Journal of Healing and Caring 9 (1). http://www.wholistichealingresearch.com/jan_2009_v9_n1.html. 
  12. ^ a b Brandon A. Gaudiano and James D. Herbert (2000). "Can we really tap our problems away?". Skeptical Inquirer 24 (4). http://www.csicop.org/si/2000-07/thought-field-therapy.html. 
  13. ^ Oliver Burkeman (2007-02-10). "Help yourself". The Guardian. http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/wellbeing/story/0,,2009525,00.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-29. 

[edit] External Links

Official EFT Website (run by Gary Craig)

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