App-Based Delivery of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques: Cross-Sectional Study of App User Self-Ratings

Church, Dawson; Stapleton, Peta; Sabot, Debbie

doi:10.2196/18545

Cited by 12 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…. (Church et al, 2020a). A meta-analysis found similar outcomes for several psychological conditions whether the interventions were conducted virtually or in person (Fernandez et al, 2021).…”

Section: Virtual Eftmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Clinical EFT as an evidence-based practice for the treatment of psychological and physiological conditions: A systematic review

Church¹,

Stapleton

Vasudevan³

et al. 2022

Front. Psychol.

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BackgroundSince the turn of the century, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) has come into widespread use in medical and psychological treatment settings. It is also used as self-help by tens of millions of people each year. Clinical EFT, the manualized form of the method, has been validated as an “evidence-based” practice using criteria published by the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 12 Task Force on Empirically Validated Therapies. Its three essential ingredients are exposure, cognitive framing, and acupressure.ObjectivesIn 2013 we published a paper defining Clinical EFT and reviewing published research. It has been viewed or downloaded over 36,000 times, indicating widespread interest in this treatment modality. Here we update our findings based on subsequently published literature and propose directions for future research.MethodWe performed a systematic review of the literature to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses. Retrieval of 4,167 results resulted in the identification of 56 RCTs (n = 2,013), 41 of which were published subsequent to our earlier review, as well as eight meta-analyses.ResultsRCTs have found EFT treatment to be effective for (a) psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression, phobias, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); (b) physiological issues such as pain, insomnia, and autoimmune conditions; (c) professional and sports performance; and (d) biological markers of stress. Meta-analyses evaluating the effect of EFT treatment have found it to be “moderate” to “large.” Successful independent replication studies have been carried out for anxiety, depression, PTSD, phobias, sports performance, and cortisol levels. We outline the next steps in EFT research. These include determining its impact on cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive impairment; analysis of the large-scale datasets made possible by mobile apps; and delivery through channels such as virtual practitioner sessions, artificial intelligence agents, online courses, apps, virtual reality platforms, and standardized group therapy.ConclusionsSubsequent research has confirmed the conclusions of earlier studies. These find Clinical EFT to be efficacious for a range of psychological and physiological conditions. Comparatively few treatment sessions are required, treatment is effective whether delivered in person or virtually, and symptom improvements persist over time. Treatment is associated with measurable biological effects in the dimensions of gene expression, brain synchrony, hormonal synthesis, and a wide range of biomarkers. Clinical EFT is a stable and mature method with an extensive evidence base. Its use in primary care settings as a safe, rapid, reliable, and effective treatment for both psychological and medical diagnoses continues to grow.

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Section: Virtual Eftmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The dominant EFT app is called the Tapping Solution. Between October 2018 and October 2019, data were gathered from 270,461 app users (Church et al, 2020a). It was found that across 12 tapping meditations targeting anxiety and stress, users reported a 44% reduction in symptoms (p < 0.001).…”

Section: Anxietymentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical EFT as an evidence-based practice for the treatment of psychological and physiological conditions: A systematic review

Church¹,

Stapleton

Vasudevan³

et al. 2022

Front. Psychol.

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“…More than 120 clinical trials demonstrate the efficacy of acupoint tapping as a psychotherapeutic intervention, often with unusual speed and durable outcomes ( Feinstein, in press ). A recent meta-analysis has shown that acupoint tapping is an essential ingredient for these strong effects ( Church et al, 2020 ). The studies reviewed compared acupoint tapping protocols with otherwise identical protocols except that a different intervention—such as diaphragmatic breathing or tapping on “sham points”—was substituted for the acupoint tapping component.…”

Section: The Nature Of Energy Psychologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ACEP Humanitarian Committee’s “Resources for Resilience” program posts a variety of online tools that can help “alleviate suffering by teaching self-help techniques to those experiencing the effects of violence, trauma, and natural disasters” (see text footnote 7). A cell phone app that guides users in applying acupoint tapping protocols for anxiety and stress was investigated in a large-scale study including 270,461 app users and found highly significant ( p < 0.001) symptom reduction ( Church et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Efficient Delivery Of Energy Psychology Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uses of Energy Psychology Following Catastrophic Events

Feinstein

2022

Front. Psychol.

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Energy psychology, as most widely practiced, integrates the manual stimulation of acupuncture points with imaginal exposure, cognitive restructuring, and other evidence-based psychotherapeutic procedures. Efficacy for energy psychology protocols has been established in more than 120 clinical trials, with meta-analyses showing strong effect sizes for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The approach has been applied in the wake of natural and human-made disasters in more than 30 countries. Four tiers of energy psychology interventions following the establishment of safety, trust, and rapport are described, including (1) immediate relief/stabilization, (2) reducing limbic arousal to trauma-based triggers, (3) overcoming complex psychological difficulties, and (4) promoting optimal functioning. The first tier is most pertinent in psychological first aid immediately following a disaster, with the subsequent tiers progressively being introduced over time with complex stress reactions and chronic disorders. Advantages of adding the stimulation of acupuncture points to a conventional exposure approach are identified, and challenges around cultural sensitivities and unintended effects are discussed. After establishing a framework for introducing energy psychology in disaster relief efforts, reports from a sampling of settings are presented, based on interviews with this paper’s author. These include accounts of relief work with survivors of mass shootings, genocide, ethnic warfare, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of other reports from the field show a pattern of strong outcomes following the use of energy psychology in the days or weeks after a disaster and in the subsequent treatment of trauma-based psychological problems. Many of these accounts corroborate one another in terms of rapid relief and long-term benefits. Finally, examples of more efficient delivery methods utilizing large groups, lay counselors, digital technology, and cultivating community resilience are presented.

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“…Energy psychology protocols have been successfully applied in the self-management of stress [31], anxiety [24], and symptoms of fibromyalgia [65]. A mobile app that guides users in applying acupoint tapping protocols for anxiety and stress was investigated in a large-scale study including 270,461 app users and found highly significant (p<0.001) symptom reduction [66].…”

Section: Back-home Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Energy Psychology in Addressing the Psychological Roots of Illness

Feinstein¹

2021

obm icm

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he impact of psychological factors on illness is, in recent years, being biochemically mapped. The subspecialties of psychosomatic medicine, health psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, and integrative medicine work with mind and body in concert to promote health and healing. A specialized set of mind-body approaches, collectively called “energy psychology,” is being utilized within these and related clinical frameworks to facilitate beneficial changes in the neurological underpinnings of (1) mental states that impede immune function, (2) emotional influences that contribute to illness, and (3) inner resources that promote healing. Combining practices from time-honored healing traditions, particularly acupressure, with concepts and techniques drawn from contemporary psychology, practitioners using one of the most popular variations of the approach teach patients to tap on a prescribed series of acupuncture points while repeating phrases that activate areas of the brain that are involved with the issue receiving attention. Preliminary evidence supports speculation, which is consistent with more than a hundred peer-reviewed clinical trials, that the procedure can send deactivating signals to areas of the limbic system that are in hyperarousal and can send activating signals to regions of the prefrontal cortex that support executive functions such as planning and managing stressful situations. Ways of utilizing the approach for addressing emotional and cognitive aspects of physical illness are discussed. While utilizing the best medical interventions available remains the first line of treatment, the potential value of working with the psychological aspects of disease is frequently underestimated. Energy psychology is proving to be a powerful tool for addressing this dimension of illness and healing. The paper closes with a detailed case history.

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App-Based Delivery of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques: Cross-Sectional Study of App User Self-Ratings

Cited by 12 publications

References 74 publications

Clinical EFT as an evidence-based practice for the treatment of psychological and physiological conditions: A systematic review

Clinical EFT as an evidence-based practice for the treatment of psychological and physiological conditions: A systematic review

Uses of Energy Psychology Following Catastrophic Events

Applications of Energy Psychology in Addressing the Psychological Roots of Illness

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