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"EFT often works where nothing else will." Gary Craig, EFT Founder
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 randomised, 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 (EFT tapping) or a control group (Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and medication) using standard randomisation tables and, later, computerised 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 clinicians made a determination of complete remission of symptoms, partial remission of symptoms, or no clinical response. The clinicians 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 EFT 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 EFT energy therapy and related methods than with CBT/medication (EFT mean = 3 sessions vs. CBT/medication 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 emphasised. 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 randomised 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, MD. The report was written by Dr. Andrade and David Feinstein, PhD. 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
What is EFT and why is everyone talking about it?
Quite simply EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is the most exciting breakthrough in therapy and personal development in a long time.
According to EFT founder and Stanford Engineer Gary Craig, "Most physical pain, including arthritis joint pain has its basis in emotional pain and EFT often works when nothing else will. Simply stated, EFT is a unique version of acupuncture - except you don't use needles. Instead, you stimulate well established energy meridian points on your body by tapping them with your fingertips."