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A Controlled Comparison of the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Two Psychological Therapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing vs. Emotional Freedom Techniques

Karatzias, Thanos; Power, Kevin; Brown, Keith; McGoldrick, Theresa; Begum, Millia; Young, Jenny; Loughran, Paul; Chouliara, Zo�; Adams, Sally

Authors

Kevin Power

Keith Brown

Theresa McGoldrick

Millia Begum

Jenny Young

Paul Loughran

Zo� Chouliara

Sally Adams



Abstract

The present study reports on the first ever controlled comparison between eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and emotional freedom techniques (EFT) for posttraumatic stress disorder. A total of 46 participants were randomized to either EMDR (n = 23) or EFT (n = 23). The participants were assessed at baseline and then reassessed after an 8-week waiting period. Two further blind assessments were conducted at posttreatment and 3-months follow-up. Overall, the results indicated that both interventions produced significant therapeutic gains at posttreatment and follow-up in an equal number of sessions. Similar treatment effect sizes were observed in both treatment groups. Regarding clinical significant changes, a slightly higher proportion of patients in the EMDR group produced substantial clinical changes compared with the EFT group. Given the speculative nature of the theoretical basis of EFT, a dismantling study on the active ingredients of EFT should be subject to future research.

Citation

Karatzias, T., Power, K., Brown, K., McGoldrick, T., Begum, M., Young, J., …Adams, S. (2011). A Controlled Comparison of the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Two Psychological Therapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing vs. Emotional Freedom Techniques. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 199(6), 372-378. https://doi.org/10.1097/nmd.0b013e31821cd262

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jun 1, 2011
Deposit Date Mar 27, 2014
Journal Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Print ISSN 0022-3018
Electronic ISSN 1539-736X
Publisher Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 199
Issue 6
Pages 372-378
DOI https://doi.org/10.1097/nmd.0b013e31821cd262
Keywords Psychiatry and Mental health
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/6672
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e31821cd262