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Self-administered EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) in Individuals With Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Trial

Brattberg, Gunilla LU (2008) In Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal (IMCJ) 7(4 Aug/Sep). p.30-35
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether

self-administered Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) lead to

reduced pain perception, increased acceptance and coping

ability, and better health-related quality of life in individuals

with fibromyalgia.

Methods: Eighty-six women, diagnosed with fibromyalgia and

on sick leave for at least 3 months, were randomly assigned to

a treatment group or a wait-listed group. For those in the treatment

group, an 8-week EFT treatment program was administered

via the internet.

Results: Upon completion of the program, statistically significant

improvements were observed in the intervention... (More)
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether

self-administered Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) lead to

reduced pain perception, increased acceptance and coping

ability, and better health-related quality of life in individuals

with fibromyalgia.

Methods: Eighty-six women, diagnosed with fibromyalgia and

on sick leave for at least 3 months, were randomly assigned to

a treatment group or a wait-listed group. For those in the treatment

group, an 8-week EFT treatment program was administered

via the internet.

Results: Upon completion of the program, statistically significant

improvements were observed in the intervention group

(n=26) in comparison with the wait-listed group (n=36) for variables

such as pain, anxiety, depression, vitality, social function,

mental health, performance problems involving work or other

activities due to physical as well as emotional reasons, and stress

symptoms. In addition, pain catastrophizing measures, such as

rumination, magnification, and helplessness, were significantly

reduced, and activity level was significantly increased in the treatment

group compared to the wait-listed group. However, no difference

in pain willingness between the groups was observed.

The number needed to treat (NNT) regarding recovering from

anxiety was 3. NNT for depression was 4.

Conclusion: Self-administered EFT seems to be a good complement

to other treatments and rehabilitation programs. The

sample size was small and the dropout rate was high. Therefore

the surprisingly good results have to be interpreted with caution.

However, it would be of interest to further study this simple and

easily accessible self-administered treatment method, which can

even be taught over the internet. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Energy psychology Emotional Freedom Techniques EFT fibromyalgia internet-based interventions, certec
in
Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal (IMCJ)
volume
7
issue
4 Aug/Sep
pages
30 - 35
external identifiers
  • scopus:50249090983
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
cd3c7647-47e2-4423-aa42-902def937bb6 (old id 1299975)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 13:44:19
date last changed
2022-03-23 20:29:10
@article{cd3c7647-47e2-4423-aa42-902def937bb6,
  abstract     = {{Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether<br/><br>
self-administered Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) lead to<br/><br>
reduced pain perception, increased acceptance and coping<br/><br>
ability, and better health-related quality of life in individuals<br/><br>
with fibromyalgia.<br/><br>
Methods: Eighty-six women, diagnosed with fibromyalgia and<br/><br>
on sick leave for at least 3 months, were randomly assigned to<br/><br>
a treatment group or a wait-listed group. For those in the treatment<br/><br>
group, an 8-week EFT treatment program was administered<br/><br>
via the internet.<br/><br>
Results: Upon completion of the program, statistically significant<br/><br>
improvements were observed in the intervention group<br/><br>
(n=26) in comparison with the wait-listed group (n=36) for variables<br/><br>
such as pain, anxiety, depression, vitality, social function,<br/><br>
mental health, performance problems involving work or other<br/><br>
activities due to physical as well as emotional reasons, and stress<br/><br>
symptoms. In addition, pain catastrophizing measures, such as<br/><br>
rumination, magnification, and helplessness, were significantly<br/><br>
reduced, and activity level was significantly increased in the treatment<br/><br>
group compared to the wait-listed group. However, no difference<br/><br>
in pain willingness between the groups was observed.<br/><br>
The number needed to treat (NNT) regarding recovering from<br/><br>
anxiety was 3. NNT for depression was 4.<br/><br>
Conclusion: Self-administered EFT seems to be a good complement<br/><br>
to other treatments and rehabilitation programs. The<br/><br>
sample size was small and the dropout rate was high. Therefore<br/><br>
the surprisingly good results have to be interpreted with caution.<br/><br>
However, it would be of interest to further study this simple and<br/><br>
easily accessible self-administered treatment method, which can<br/><br>
even be taught over the internet.}},
  author       = {{Brattberg, Gunilla}},
  keywords     = {{Energy psychology Emotional Freedom Techniques EFT fibromyalgia internet-based interventions; certec}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4 Aug/Sep}},
  pages        = {{30--35}},
  series       = {{Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal (IMCJ)}},
  title        = {{Self-administered EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) in Individuals With Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Trial}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}