Inte­gra­ting the manual stimu­la­tion of acup­unc­ture points into psycho­the­rapy: A syste­matic review with clinical recom­men­da­tions. Fein­stein, D. (2022)

Inte­gra­ting the manual stimu­la­tion of acup­unc­ture points into psycho­the­rapy: A syste­matic review with clinical recom­men­da­tions. Journal of Psycho­the­rapy Integration.

Advance online publi­ca­tion. Link to the original article: https://​doi​.org/​1​0​.​1​0​3​7​/​i​n​t​0​0​0​0​283

Abstract

The inte­gra­tion into psycho­the­rapy of proto­cols using the stimu­la­tion of acup­unc­ture points by tapping on them, a form of acupres­sure, is incre­a­singly appearing in clinical prac­tice. An under­lying premise is that the proce­dure gene­rates acti­vating and deac­ti­vating signals which, in real time, impact brain areas aroused by a client’s focus of atten­tion. This makes it possible for a thera­pist to rapidly faci­li­tate cogni­tive and neuro­lo­gical changes by shif­ting the wording and images that accom­pany the tapping. The approach has been contro­ver­sial, with both enthu­si­astic propon­ents and adamant critics. A total of 309 peer-reviewed, English-language journal arti­cles have focused on this deve­lo­p­ment. The aim of this article is to put these reports into context using a “hier­archy of evidence” model. In a hier­archy of evidence, judgments about the effi­cacy of a clinical approach are formed according to the rela­tive strength of the types of studies suppor­ting the method. The hier­archy of evidence for psycho­the­ra­pies that use tapping on acup­unc­ture points includes 28 syste­matic reviews or meta-analyses, 125 clinical trials, 24 case studies, 26 reports describing syste­matic obser­va­tions, 17 mixed-method clinical trials that included a tapping compo­nent, and 88 arti­cles addres­sing clinical proce­dures, theory, mecha­nisms, or related issues. Consis­tency in posi­tive outcomes following the tapping of selected acup­unc­ture points for a range of condi­tions was iden­ti­fied and weak­nesses in study designs discussed. Mecha­nisms of action are briefly consi­dered and sugges­tions for inte­gra­ting acup­oint tapping proto­cols into clinical prac­tice are presented. The article concludes that although further rese­arch is needed, the growing evidence base docu­men­ting the effec­ti­ve­ness, speed, and dura­bi­lity of the approach appears promi­sing. (Psyc­Info Data­base Record © 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Impact State­ment

Inte­gra­ting tech­ni­ques from acupres­sure into conven­tional psycho­the­rapy is, according to claims by those using this approach, a cata­lyst for stronger and more rapid outcomes with a wide range of condi­tions. The protocol has been the subject of more than 300 peer-reviewed journal arti­cles. This review finds that the evidence showing the approach to be effec­tive, rapid, and durable appears promi­sing, and it poses ques­tions that still need to be inves­ti­gated for addi­tional validation. 

(Psyc­Info Data­base Record © 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Thank you for permis­sion to trans­late and post to CCC, American Psycho­lo­gical Asso­cia­tion Licensed Content Author.

Keppel, Hadas. Fiel­ding Graduate Univer­sity, ProQuest Disser­ta­tions Publi­shing, 2021. 28713632.

Abstract

The effects of a stress reduc­tion Thought field therapy protocol vs. a control-stimu­la­tion protocol on general stress, paren­ting stress, and empathy (perspec­tive taking) were explored in this mixed-model, rando­mized control study. Parents of children with autism, from Israel and the USA, showed reduced general stress and an increase in perspec­tive taking following the inter­ven­tion, as measured by self-reports. General stress parti­ally mediated the effect of TFT on perspec­tive taking. There were no addi­tional changes during the follow-up period. Parti­ci­pants with perso­na­lity charac­te­ris­tics of the broad autism pheno­type presented at base­line higher general and paren­ting-related stress scores, and lower perspec­tive taking scores, regard­less of their inter­ven­tion group. The finding suggests that perspec­tive taking is part of the broad autism pheno­type. TFT was effec­tive, regard­less of parti­ci­pants’ BAP status.

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Multi­di­sci­pli­nary life­style inter­ven­tion in children and adolescents — results of the project GRIT (Growth, Resi­li­ence, Insights, Thrive) pilot study

Hannah L. Mayr1,2,3*, Feli­city Cohen2, Eliza­beth Isenring1, Stijn Soenen4,5, Project GRIT Team2,6 and Skye Marshall1,7

Abstract

Back­ground

During child­hood and adolescence leading beha­vioral risk factors for the deve­lo­p­ment of cardio­me­ta­bolic dise­ases include poor diet quality and seden­tary life­style. The aim of this study was to deter­mine the feasi­bi­lity and effect of a real-world group-based multi­di­sci­pli­nary inter­ven­tion on cardio­re­spi­ra­tory fitness, diet quality and self-concept in seden­tary children and adolescents aged 9 to 15 years.

Methods

Project GRIT (Growth, Resi­li­ence, Insights, Thrive) was a pilot single-arm inter­ven­tion study. The 12-week inter­ven­tion involved up to three outdoor High Inten­sity Interval Trai­ning (HIIT) running sessions per week, five healthy eating educa­tion or cooking demons­tra­tion sessions, and one mindful eating and Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques psycho­logy session. Outcome measures at base­line and 12-week follow-up included maximal graded cardio­re­spi­ra­tory testing, the Austra­lian Child and Adolescent Eating Survey, and Piers-Harris 2 children’s self­con­cept scale. Paired samples t‑test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare base­line and follow-up outcome measures in study comple­ters only. 

Results

Of the 38 recruited parti­ci­pants (median age 11.4 years, 53% male), 24 (63%) completed the 12-week inter­ven­tion. Dropouts had signi­fi­cantly higher diet quality at base­line than comple­ters. Comple­ters attended a median 58 (IQR 55–75) % of the 33 exer­cise sessions, 60 (IQR 40–95) % of the dietary sessions, and 42% attended the psycho­logy session. No serious adverse events were reported. Abso­lute VO2peak at 12 weeks changed by 96.2 ± 239.4 mL/min (p = 0.06). As a percen­tage contri­bu­tion to energy intake, parti­ci­pants incre­ased their intake of healthy core foods by 6.0 ± 11.1% (p = 0.02) and reduced median intake of confec­tionary (− 2.0 [IQR 0.0–3.0] %, p = 0.003) and baked products (− 1.0 [IQR 0.0–5.0] %, p = 0.02). Parti­ci­pants signi­fi­cantly improved self-concept with an increase in average TScore for the total scale by 2.8 ± 5.3 (p = 0.02) and the ‘physical appearance and attri­butes’ domain scale by median 4.0 [IQR 0.5–4.0] (p = 0.02).

Conclu­sions

The 12-week group-based multi­di­sci­pli­nary life­style inter­ven­tion for children and adolescents improved diet quality and self-concept in study comple­ters. Future prac­tice and rese­arch should focus on provi­ding sustainable multi­di­sci­pli­nary life­style inter­ven­tions for children and adolescents aiming to improve long-term health and wellbeing.

Trial regis­tra­tion: ANZCTR, ACTRN12618001249246. Regis­tered 24 July 2019 — Retro­spec­tively registered

Keywords

Exer­cise, Physical acti­vity, Diet quality, Self-concept, Children, Adolescents, Life­style inter­ven­tion, Multidisciplinary

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The Effec­ti­ve­ness of Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques (EFT) for Impro­ving The Physical, Mental, and Emotional Health of People with Chronic Dise­ases and/or Mental Health Condi­tions: A Syste­matic Review Protocol

2014, Kalla, M, Khalil, H, Pain and Physical Condi­tions, Phobias, PTSD & Trauma, Quality of Life, Rese­arch Reviews, Serious Disease, Stress

Kalla, M., & Khalil, H. (2014). The effec­ti­ve­ness of Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques (EFT) for impro­ving the physical, mental, and emotional health of people with chronic dise­ases and/or mental health condi­tions: A syste­matic review protocol. JBI Data­base of Syste­matic Reviews and Imple­men­ta­tion Reports,12(2), 114–124. doi:10.11124/jbisrir-2014–1153

Abstract

The purpose of this syste­matic review is to:

Iden­tify, summa­rize and synthe­size evidence on the uses and perceived bene­fits of a meri­dian-based energy psycho­logy inter­ven­tion, Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques (EFT) for enhan­cing physical, mental and emotional health of people with chronic dise­ases and/or mental health conditions.

Speci­fi­cally, this syste­matic review will examine the avail­able Level 1 scien­tific lite­ra­ture in order to examine the effec­ti­ve­ness of Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques, as a tool to assist with impro­ving people’s health. These will include:

1. Specific changes occur­ring in the physical body, as a result of admi­nis­te­ring EFT to a subject; for example, changes in cortisol levels, reduced clum­ping in blood cells, or a reduc­tion in somatization.
2. Emotional and mental health bene­fits reported immedia­tely and at a later follow-up time by subjects.

Back­ground Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques (EFT), also known as tapping, is an energy psycho­logy tech­nique that combines stimu­la­tion of acupres­sure points on the face and upper body with expo­sure to a specific trau­matic memory or trigger.1 EFT uses the meri­dian energy system of the body, similar to tradi­tional acup­unc­ture, but it differs in the way it is administered.2 In tradi­tional acup­unc­ture, needles are used to stimu­late the end points of meri­dians. In EFT, the subject gently taps acupres­sure points with his/her finger­tips. While tapping on acupres­sure points, the subject also focuses on the emotions trig­gered by a stimulus (e.g. spiders, in the case of phobias), or a parti­cular trau­matic event, and voices state­ments of self-accep­t­ance. EFT combines cogni­tive stra­te­gies with systems such as acup­unc­ture which leads to a shift in the “cogni­tive, beha­vioral and neuro­che­mical foun­da­tions of the psycho­lo­gical problem”. (p2)

Similar to cogni­tive beha­vioral therapy, EFT’s aspect of self-accep­t­ance relies on the premise that accep­t­ance, rather than resis­tance of a parti­cular condi­tion can reduce suffering.

Stimu­la­tion of acup­oints is believed to send a signal to the limbic system and reduce limbic hyper-arousal.5 This in turn, leads to “rapid reci­procal inhi­bi­tion” and “long-term counter-condi­tio­ning”. (p3)

EFT appears to decrease acti­vity in the amyg­dala, which is part of the brain’s arousal pathway. It is also consi­dered to have effects on the body’s physio­logy in rela­tion to stress regu­la­tion, emotional inten­sity and neural transmission.

A rando­mized controlled trial (RCT) under­taken by Church et al. showed signi­fi­cant impro­ve­ments in psycho­lo­gical distress symptoms and cortisol levels in 83 non-clinical subjects, who received one hour long EFT sessions. Parti­ci­pants were assi­gned to EFT, suppor­tive interviews/psychotherapy, or no treat­ment groups. Sali­vary cortisol assays, which were under­taken prior to and 30 minutes post inter­ven­tion, showed a reduc­tion in cortisol level by over 24% in the group that received EFT, compared to a 14.25% decrease in the case of suppor­tive inter­views and about 14.44% in the case of no treatment.6 These decre­ases were in align­ment with the perceived impro­ve­ment in psycho­lo­gical distress symptoms. The EFT group demons­trated impro­ve­ments in anxiety (58.34%), depres­sion (49.33%) and overall symptom seve­rity (50.5%).

Another clinical study conducted by Church et al. involved 238 first year psycho­logy students who were randomly allo­cated to either EFT or no treat­ment groups. Four 90-minute long group EFT sessions were admi­nis­tered to the EFT group. At the end of the four sessions, the EFT group showed statis­ti­cally signi­fi­cant impro­ve­ments in their depres­sion scores, which were assessed using the Beck Depres­sion Inven­tory (BDI). The mean score was in the non-depressed range.

A number of studies have been under­taken to inves­ti­gate the bene­fits of EFT for post-trau­matic stress disorder (PTSD) pati­ents, in parti­cular vete­rans. In one RCT, vete­rans meeting clinical criteria for PTSD were randomly divided into EFT treat­ment and stan­dard of care/wait list groups. Psycho­lo­gical distress and PTSD symptoms were compared after one month for the stan­dard care group and after six EFT sessions for the EFT group. Not only were symptoms signi­fi­cantly improved, but also 90% of the subjects in the EFT group no longer met clinical PTSD criteria. At the end of the wait list period, the stan­dard care group subjects received EFT. Sixty percent of the subjects became symptom free at the end of three sessions. Eighty six percent of the subjects were symptom free at the end of three months and 80% were symptom free at the end of six months. There have also been studies demons­tra­ting some level of bene­fits of EFT for fibro­my­algia, food cravings, and phobias.

EFT in its current form emerged in the early 1990s. Whilst there have been a number of studies on various health condi­tions, as well as reviews of its evidence base, there seems to be only one review done syste­ma­ti­cally, which was a narra­tive review by Boath et al.1

The proposed syste­matic review will focus on summa­ri­zing and synthe­si­zing evidence related to the perceived bene­fits of EFT for enhan­cing physical, mental and emotional health, in order to better under­stand how EFT can be used to support people suffe­ring from chronic dise­ases and/or mental health condi­tions. A variety of scien­tific lite­ra­ture exists on the subject of EFT, ranging from RCTs to case reports. However, to ensure that studies falling in the higher ranks of evidence hier­ar­chies are included in this review, only RCTs and cohort studies will be included.

Link to original article

Abstract

A data­base of peer-reviewed journal arti­cles explo­ring the emer­ging sub-specialty known as “energy psycho­logy” was assessed. This paper focuses on the 245 clinical trials, meta-analyses, syste­matic evalua­tions, and theory pieces exami­ning energy psycho­logy proto­cols that include tapping on acup­unc­ture points (acup­oints), the most frequently used and inves­ti­gated inter­ven­tion in energy psycho­logy. The review derives 6 premises about the method’s effi­cacy, speed, dura­bi­lity, and physio­logic effects that have enough empi­rical support (at least 6 clinical trials each) to serve in deli­ne­a­ting and making claims about the approach. These include that acup­oint tapping proto­cols (a) are effec­tive in trea­ting a range of clinical condi­tions, (b) are rapid compared to conven­tional treat­ments, © lead to durable bene­fits, (d) produce changes in biologic markers that corrob­orate the subjec­tive assess­ments of clients, (e) are a critical ingre­dient for the demons­trated clinical effects and (f) send signals that can increase or decrease arousal in specific areas of the brain. Further consi­de­ra­tion of the mecha­nisms that lead to the reported rapid, durable outcomes suggest that the approach has an unusual capa­city for revi­sing outdated mental models. Speci­fi­cally, a hypo­thesis is deve­loped propo­sing that acup­oint tapping proto­cols are facile for produ­cing vivid and emotio­nally intense expe­ri­ences that contra­dict outdated mental models. Such mismat­ches between what is expected and what actually occurs, called “predic­tion errors,” have been shown to be an essen­tial requi­re­ment for substan­ti­ally alte­ring a maladap­tive mental model and recon­so­li­da­ting a revised mental model into exis­ting neural networks. (Adv Mind Body Med. 2021;35(2):17–32.).

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How Do Energy Psycho­logy Moda­li­ties Work?
An Energy-Based Theo­re­tical Perspec­tive
Debra Greene, PhD 

Abstract

Energy Psycho­logy (EP) moda­li­ties, inte­gra­tive methods that stra­te­gi­cally involve acces­sing human energy for thera­peutic purposes, enjoy a rich and diverse evidence base. As such, many attempts have been made to explain how they work. Explana­tions have prima­rily utilized a biolo­gical basis for expli­ca­ting the mecha­nisms by which EP may func­tion. These contri­bu­tions are extre­mely valu­able; however, none have been able to offer a fully satis­fac­tory under­stan­ding of the effi­cacy of EP. The curr­ently accepted theo­re­tical model is not robust enough to explain a number of EP effects, and acup­oint stimu­la­tion remains a confoun­ding factor even though rese­arch shows it is an essen­tial compo­nent in predo­mi­nant EP moda­li­ties. In many profes­sional EP trai­nings, nega­tive emotions are said to be caused by a block in the meri­dian system, so energy-based theory is invoked but not well explained.

Since acup­oints are part of the meri­dian system that distri­butes vital energy (some­times called qi) and are there­fore energy-based, employing an energy-based perspec­tive for mode­ling EP could advance theo­re­tical under­stan­ding. In this paper I offer an energy-based perspec­tive grounded in Tiller’s multi­di­men­sional model. I describe how main compon­ents of the model func­tion and apply those to EP, speci­fi­cally with regard to acup­oint stimu­la­tion. The objec­tive is to propose a perspec­tive that includes exis­ting theo­re­tical models and extends our under­stan­ding of the mecha­nisms by which EP may work by expan­ding the theo­re­tical base, contri­bu­ting to a model with incre­ased scope and explana­tory power.

Key words: Energy psycho­logy, EFT tapping, energy medi­cine, biofield, consciousness

Down­load the study

Kalla, M. & Stap­leton, P. (2016).

How Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques (EFT) may be utili­zing memory recon­so­li­da­tion mecha­nisms for thera­peutic change in neuro­psych­iatric disor­ders such as PTSD and phobia: A proposed model. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, in press. 

Link: https://evidencebasedeft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Meta-Reviews-EP_Review_Articles‑4.4.16.pdf

Abstract

Maladap­tive fear memo­ries attri­buted to Pavlo­vian asso­cia­tions are consi­dered to be at the crux of neuro­psych­iatric disor­ders such as post-trau­matic stress disorder and phobia. The memory recon­so­li­da­tion theory suggests that upon retrieval, memo­ries become labile for a few hours, during which yiel­ding a predic­tion error can lead to thera­peutic change. This article proposes that Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques (EFT), a thera­peutic inter­ven­tion combi­ning psycho­the­rapy with a somatic acup­oint stimu­la­tion compo­nent may be utili­sing memory recon­so­li­da­tion mecha­nisms to faci­li­tate thera­peutic change. The EFT protocol combines three crucial elements of thera­peutic change, namely, retrieval of fear memo­ries, incor­po­ra­tion of new emotional expe­ri­ences and lear­nings into the memory crea­ting a predic­tion error, and finally rein­for­ce­ment of the new learning.

https://​rese​arch​.bond​.edu​.au/​e​n​/​p​u​b​l​i​c​a​t​i​o​n​s​/​c​l​i​n​i​c​a​l​-​e​f​t​-​e​m​o​t​i​o​n​a​l​-​f​r​e​e​d​o​m​-​t​e​c​h​n​i​q​u​e​s​-​i​m​p​r​o​v​e​s​-​m​u​l​t​i​p​l​e​-​p​h​ysi

Bach, D., Groes­beck, G., Stap­leton, P., Sims, R., Blick­heuser, K., & Church, D. (2019). Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques) Improves Multiple Physio­lo­gical Markers of Health

Bach, D., Groes­beck, G., Stap­leton, P., Sims, R., Blick­heuser, K., & Church, D. (2019). Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques) Improves Multiple Physio­lo­gical Markers of Health. Journal of Evidence-Based Inte­gra­tive Medi­cine, 24. https://​doi​.org/​1​0​.​1​1​7​7​/​2​5​1​5​6​9​0​X​1​8​8​2​3​691

Abstract

Emotional Freedom Tech­nique (EFT) is an evidence-based self-help thera­peutic method and over 100 studies demons­trate its effi­cacy. However, infor­ma­tion about the physio­lo­gical effects of EFT is limited. The current study sought to eluci­date EFTs mecha­nisms of action across the central nervous system (CNS) by measu­ring heart rate varia­bi­lity (HRV) and heart cohe­rence (HC); the circu­la­tory system using resting heart rate (RHR) and blood pres­sure (BP); the endocrine system using cortisol, and the immune system using sali­vary immu­no­glo­bulin A (SigA). The second aim was to measure psycho­lo­gical symptoms. Parti­ci­pants (N = 203) were enrolled in a 4‑day trai­ning work­shop held in diffe­rent loca­tions. At one work­shop (n = 31), parti­ci­pants also received compre­hen­sive physio­lo­gical testing. Post­test, signi­fi­cant declines were found in anxiety (−40%), depres­sion (−35%), post­trau­matic stress disorder (−32%), pain (−57%), and cravings (−74%), all P <.000. Happi­ness incre­ased (+31%, P =.000) as did SigA (+113%, P =.017). Signi­fi­cant impro­ve­ments were found in RHR (−8%, P =.001), cortisol (−37%, P <.000), systolic BP (−6%, P =.001), and diastolic BP (−8%, P <.000). Posi­tive trends were observed for HRV and HC and gains were main­tained on follow-up, indi­ca­ting EFT results in posi­tive health effects as well as incre­ased mental well-being.

Stap­leton, P. B., Trude, R., Mack­in­tosh, G., Sparen­burg, E., Sabot, D., & Carter, B. (2019). Online Deli­very of Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques in the Treat­ment of Food Cravings and Weight Manage­ment: A Rando­mised Controlled Trial

Stap­leton, P. B., Trude, R., Mack­in­tosh, G., Sparen­burg, E., Sabot, D., & Carter, B. (2019). Online Deli­very of Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques in the Treat­ment of Food Cravings and Weight Manage­ment: A Rando­mised Controlled Trial. OBM Inte­gra­tive and Comple­men­tary Medi­cine, 4(4). https://​doi​.org/​1​0​.​2​1​9​2​6​/​o​b​m​.​i​c​m​.​1​9​0​4​065

Abstract

Back­ground: The combi­na­tion of dietary restraint and physical exer­cise as a recom­mended treat­ment for weight loss has had limited long-term success. One factor proposed as limi­ting weight manage­ment tech­ni­ques effi­cacy is the failure to target psycho­lo­gical processes linked with overea­ting. Consis­tent with prior rese­arch that has iden­ti­fied the effi­cacy of emotional freedom tech­ni­ques (EFT) in redu­cing food cravings and aiding weight loss, this pilot rando­mised controlled trial (RCT) examined the impact of online deli­very of EFT inter­ven­tion on food cravings and weight management.

Methods: Parti­ci­pants were randomly assi­gned to an eight-week online EFT inter­ven­tion group or wait­list control group. The sample comprised prima­rily of women (96%) aged between 41 and 60 years. Of the treat­ment group, 65% consumed their craved foods daily and had an average Body Mass Index in the obese range (33.3). Outcome measures assessed included food cravings, dietary restraint, subjec­tive power of food, weight, somatic (body sensa­tion), anxiety, and depres­sive symptoms.

Results: Post-inter­ven­tion analyses reve­aled signi­fi­cant reduc­tions on all measures for parti­ci­pants in the EFT condi­tion (n = 314) with Cohen’s effect size values sugges­ting mode­rate to high prac­tical signi­fi­cance for the online inter­ven­tion. However, there were no signi­fi­cant diffe­rences for parti­ci­pants in the wait­list control group (n = 137). In this cross­over study design, post-test wait­list data was then collapsed into the EFT treat­ment group data for follow-up analyses, which indi­cated treat­ment gains on all measures at 6‑month (n = 216) and 12-month (n = 145) follow-up.

Conclu­sions: Findings consti­tute preli­mi­nary support for the utility of online EFT as an acces­sible tool to assist the manage­ment of food cravings and body weight.

Levinge, E., Stap­leton, P. B., & Sabot, D. (2020). Deli­ne­a­ting the psycho­lo­gical and beha­vioral factors of successful weight loss main­ten­ance. Heliyon, 6(1), [e03100]. https://​doi​.org/​1​0​.​1​0​1​6​/​j​.​h​e​l​i​y​o​n​.​2​0​1​9​.​e​0​3​100

Levinge, E., Stap­leton, P. B., & Sabot, D. (2020). Deli­ne­a­ting the psycho­lo­gical and beha­vioural factors of successful weight loss main­ten­ance. Heliyon, 6(1), [e03100]. https://​doi​.org/​1​0​.​1​0​1​6​/​j​.​h​e​l​i​y​o​n​.​2​0​1​9​.​e​0​3​100

Abstract

Over­weight and obesity present alar­ming global health problems inclu­ding detri­mental health risks that call for effec­tive inter­ven­tions. Consi­derable rese­arch has examined beha­vioral and psycho­lo­gical factors asso­ciated with weight loss to advance the field of obesity and over­weight. In line with the lite­ra­ture, this study aimed to develop a beha­vioral and psycho­lo­gical profile based on factors of perso­na­lity, eating beha­viors, emotional func­tio­ning, physical well-being, and psycho­pa­tho­logy. The sample consisted of 105 commu­nity parti­ci­pants who had reduced their body­weight by at least 10% and had either success­fully main­tained their weight loss for a minimum 12-month period (n = 41) or had regained their weight loss within 12 months (n = 64). Parti­ci­pants completed an online survey compri­sing demo­gra­phic items and four empi­rical measures (Mini Marker Perso­na­lity Scale, Patient Health Ques­ti­onn­aire, Three-Factor Eating Ques­ti­onn­aire-Revised, and a food scree­ning tool). Based on signi­fi­cant biva­riate corre­la­tions results, four factors (fat intake, restrained eating, uncon­trolled eating, and emotional eating) were entered into a binary logistic regres­sion. Restrained eating was the only factor that signi­fi­cantly incre­ased the likeli­hood of predic­ting successful long-term weight loss. Findings have impli­ca­tions for over­weight and obesity future rese­arch, which may guide the direc­tion of obesity and over­weight treatments.

Making sense of chronic disease using Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques (EFT): An exis­ten­tial view of illness

Kalla, M., Simmons, M., Robinson, A. and Stap­leton, P., 2020. Making sense of chronic disease using Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques (EFT): An exis­ten­tial view of illness. EXPLORE, 16(4), pp.214–224.

Kalla, M., Simmons, M., Robinson, A. and Stap­leton, P., 2020. Making sense of chronic disease using Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques (EFT): An exis­ten­tial view of illness. EXPLORE, 16(4), pp.214–224.

https://​doi​.org/​1​0​.​1​0​1​6​/​j​.​e​x​p​l​o​r​e​.​2​0​2​0​.​0​3​.​006

Abstract

Objec­tive

This article explores chronic disease pati­ents’ personal symbolic meanings of their dise­ases, as emer­gent from their expe­ri­ence of Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques (EFT) therapy. The present study is part of a larger study that explored chronic disease pati­ents’ and EFT prac­ti­tio­ners’ expe­ri­ences of using EFT to support chronic disease healthcare.

Design

Eight chronic disease pati­ents who had received EFT were inter­viewed for this study. Semi-struc­tured inter­views were conducted face to face, or via tele­phone, or the online video­con­fe­ren­cing plat­form, Zoom. Inter­views were tran­scribed verbatim and data was analyzed using Inter­pre­ta­tive Pheno­me­no­lo­gical Analysis methodology.

Results

Three themes emerged, namely ‘illness as an embo­di­ment of unre­solved emotional issues’, ‘illness as body’s call for time-out and atten­tion’, and ‘illness as a boundary from other people’.

Conclu­sion

EFT offers promise as a suitable thera­peutic approach to help chronic disease pati­ents make sense of their life stories and lived expe­ri­ences, and conse­quently, symbolic meanings of dise­ases. The explo­ra­tion of illness symbo­logy and meaning-making may offer thera­peutic value to pati­ents, from both an exis­ten­tial and a health beha­viors perspective.

Portion perfec­tion and Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques to assist bariatric pati­ents post surgery: A rando­mised control trial

Stap­leton, P., Clark, A., Sabot, D., Carter, B. and Leech, K., 2020. Portion perfec­tion and Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques to assist bariatric pati­ents post surgery: A rando­mised control trial. Heliyon, 6(6), p.e04058.

Stap­leton, P., Clark, A., Sabot, D., Carter, B. and Leech, K., 2020. Portion perfec­tion and Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques to assist bariatric pati­ents post surgery: A rando­mised control trial. Heliyon, 6(6), p.e04058.

https://​doi​.org/​1​0​.​1​0​1​6​/​j​.​h​e​l​i​y​o​n​.​2​0​2​0​.​e​0​4​058

Abstract

Back­ground

Although signi­fi­cant health impro­ve­ments are indi­cated from weight-loss following bariatric surgery, many indi­vi­duals are unable to lose weight or main­tain their weight-loss. The current study aimed to assess whether post-surgery care compri­sing Emotional Freedom Tech­ni­ques (EFT), an emer­ging energy psycho­logy inter­ven­tion, combined with a beha­viour-based nutri­tion and portion control eating plan in an online self-guided deli­very would aid weight-loss and main­ten­ance in bariatric patients.

Methods

A 6‑month rando­mised controlled parallel-group trial. Parti­ci­pants (N = 343; aged 21–69 years; BMI ≥30 kg/m²) had under­gone bariatric surgery (12 + months prior) and were randomly assi­gned to one of three treat­ment groups: Portion Perfec­tion for Bariatric Pati­ents (PPBP; n = 109), PPBP combined with an eight-week online self-paced EFT treat­ment (n = 107), and a treat­ment as usual (TAU) control (n = 127). Parti­ci­pants completed measures of BMI, emotional eating, uncon­trolled eating, food cravings, and self-esteem at 8‑week post-treat­ment (n = 158) and 6‑month follow-up (n = 109).

Results

Mixed-design analyses of vari­ances were conducted to examine the effect of the inter­ven­tions on outcome measures (pre-inter­ven­tion, 8‑week post-inter­ven­tion, and 6‑month follow-up). Emotional eating decre­ased signi­fi­cantly from pre-inter­ven­tion to post-inter­ven­tion for the PPBP and PPBP with EFT groups, and at 6‑month follow-up for the TAU group only. There were no statis­ti­cally signi­fi­cant between-group diffe­rences in other outcome varia­bles. However, at 6‑months the PPBP with EFT group expe­ri­enced the grea­test impro­ve­ments in emotional eating (-16.33%), uncon­trolled eating (-9.36%), and self-esteem (+4.43%), compared to PPBP only or TAU.

Conclu­sion

The effect of EFT combined with the eating plan on psycho­lo­gical varia­bles was largely incon­sis­tent with prior rese­arch and discus­sion of how this may be opti­mised in future trials is discussed.