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Effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Techniques in Alleviating Symptoms Associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

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Title: Effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Techniques in Alleviating Symptoms Associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Authors: Chen, Wan-Ting (AUTHOR), Chao, Tso-Yi (AUTHOR), Huang, Wei-Zhi (AUTHOR), Hsu, Chih-Wei (AUTHOR), Tseng, Ping-Tao (AUTHOR), Tzeng, Nian-Sheng (AUTHOR), Chang, Hsin-An (AUTHOR), Yeh, Chin-Bin (AUTHOR), Weng, Ju-Ping (AUTHOR), Hsieh, Ping-Hsuan (AUTHOR), Chen, Tien-Yu (AUTHOR)
Source: European Archives of Psychiatry & Clinical Neuroscience. Oct2025, Vol. 275 Issue 7, p2027-2037. 11p.
Abstract: Introduction: Energy psychology, particularly emotional freedom techniques (EFT), has gained attention as a non-pharmacological treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of EFT in alleviating PTSD symptoms. Methods: This meta-analysis follows PRISMA guidelines. We conducted a literature search on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, Airiti Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov for relevant studies published before December 31, 2024. Results: The meta-analysis included 13 studies involving 621 patients. Our findings showed that EFT significantly improved PTSD symptoms compared to the baseline (standardized mean difference [SMD]: − 0.901; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: − 1.130– − 0.671; Hedge's g: −0.865) and was more effective than the control group (SMD: − 2.106; 95% CI: − 2.759– − 1.452; Hedge's g: −2.062). Furthermore, anxiety (SMD: − 0.591; 95% CI: − 0.726– − 0.456; Hedge's g: −0.567) and depression (SMD: − 0.516; 95% CI: − 0.654– − 0.377; Hedge's g: −0.495) scores decreased significantly compared to the baseline. Notably, these treatment effects were sustained for up to three months for PTSD severity (SMD: − 0.757; 95% CI: − 0.967– − 0.547; Hedge's g: −0.723), anxiety (SMD: − 0.522; 95% CI: − 0.683– − 0.361; Hedge's g: −0.498), and depression (SMD: − 0.420; 95% CI: − 0.542– − 0.298; Hedge's g: −0.402). The subgroup analysis of veterans revealed that EFT effectively reduced PTSD symptoms (SMD: − 1.159; 95% CI: − 1.441– − 0.877; Hedge's g: −1.102), anxiety (SMD: − 0.715; 95% CI: − 0.943– −0.487; Hedge's g: -0.676), and depression (SMD: − 0.627; 95% CI: − 0.803– − 0.451; Hedge's g: −0.597). Conclusions: EFT effectively treated PTSD and reduced comorbid symptoms, including anxiety and depression. Moreover, its therapeutic effect could be applied in veteran populations and sustained for up to three months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of European Archives of Psychiatry & Clinical Neuroscience is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Techniques in Alleviating Symptoms Associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Wan-Ting%22">Chen, Wan-Ting</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chao%2C+Tso-Yi%22">Chao, Tso-Yi</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Huang%2C+Wei-Zhi%22">Huang, Wei-Zhi</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hsu%2C+Chih-Wei%22">Hsu, Chih-Wei</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tseng%2C+Ping-Tao%22">Tseng, Ping-Tao</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tzeng%2C+Nian-Sheng%22">Tzeng, Nian-Sheng</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chang%2C+Hsin-An%22">Chang, Hsin-An</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yeh%2C+Chin-Bin%22">Yeh, Chin-Bin</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Weng%2C+Ju-Ping%22">Weng, Ju-Ping</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hsieh%2C+Ping-Hsuan%22">Hsieh, Ping-Hsuan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Tien-Yu%22">Chen, Tien-Yu</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22European+Archives+of+Psychiatry+%26+Clinical+Neuroscience%22">European Archives of Psychiatry & Clinical Neuroscience</searchLink>. Oct2025, Vol. 275 Issue 7, p2027-2037. 11p.
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Introduction: Energy psychology, particularly emotional freedom techniques (EFT), has gained attention as a non-pharmacological treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of EFT in alleviating PTSD symptoms. Methods: This meta-analysis follows PRISMA guidelines. We conducted a literature search on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, Airiti Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov for relevant studies published before December 31, 2024. Results: The meta-analysis included 13 studies involving 621 patients. Our findings showed that EFT significantly improved PTSD symptoms compared to the baseline (standardized mean difference [SMD]: − 0.901; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: − 1.130– − 0.671; Hedge's g: −0.865) and was more effective than the control group (SMD: − 2.106; 95% CI: − 2.759– − 1.452; Hedge's g: −2.062). Furthermore, anxiety (SMD: − 0.591; 95% CI: − 0.726– − 0.456; Hedge's g: −0.567) and depression (SMD: − 0.516; 95% CI: − 0.654– − 0.377; Hedge's g: −0.495) scores decreased significantly compared to the baseline. Notably, these treatment effects were sustained for up to three months for PTSD severity (SMD: − 0.757; 95% CI: − 0.967– − 0.547; Hedge's g: −0.723), anxiety (SMD: − 0.522; 95% CI: − 0.683– − 0.361; Hedge's g: −0.498), and depression (SMD: − 0.420; 95% CI: − 0.542– − 0.298; Hedge's g: −0.402). The subgroup analysis of veterans revealed that EFT effectively reduced PTSD symptoms (SMD: − 1.159; 95% CI: − 1.441– − 0.877; Hedge's g: −1.102), anxiety (SMD: − 0.715; 95% CI: − 0.943– −0.487; Hedge's g: -0.676), and depression (SMD: − 0.627; 95% CI: − 0.803– − 0.451; Hedge's g: −0.597). Conclusions: EFT effectively treated PTSD and reduced comorbid symptoms, including anxiety and depression. Moreover, its therapeutic effect could be applied in veteran populations and sustained for up to three months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of European Archives of Psychiatry & Clinical Neuroscience is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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