Tapping for PTSD & Trauma — evidence summary for clinicians

Tapping (EFT) for PTSD & Trauma: evidence summary

A one-page overview of the peer-reviewed research, prepared for discussion with a healthcare provider. The Tapping Evidence Base · July 2026

116studies

35randomized trials

21meta-analyses/reviews

3,835participants

Bottom line. A meta-analysis (Chen 2025) reported a pooled Hedges' g of -2.062 (95% CI -2.759 to -1.452 (SMD scale)) for tapping on EFT in the ptsd & trauma literature.

Selected strongest studies

Study	Design	Journal	Effect
Mavranezouli, I., et al. (2020)	Meta-analysis, N=6560	Psychological Medicine	SMD (network meta-analysis) = -1.69 — caveat: PTSD symptoms post-treatment vs waitlist, for the category labeled 'combined somatic and cognitive therapies' in the network meta-analysis — NOT a category the primary paper itself labels 'EFT' or 'Emotional Freedom Techniques'
Mavranezouli, I., Megnin-Viggars, O. et al. (2020)	Meta-analysis, N=2260	Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Chen, W.T., Chao, T.Y. et al. (2025)	Meta-analysis, N=621	European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Wright, S., Karyotaki, E. et al. (2024)	Meta-analysis, N=346	Psychological Medicine
Sebastian, B., Nelms, J. (2017)	Meta-analysis, N=247	Explore (NY)	weighted Cohen's d = 2.96
Brown, R.C., Witt, A. et al. (2017)	Meta-analysis, 36 studies	Psychological Medicine
Uzzi, C. (2021)	Systematic review, N=19232	Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research
Stapleton, P., Kip, K. et al. (2023)	Systematic review, N=280	Frontiers in Psychology	Hedges' g = 1.86

Study

Design

Journal

Effect

Mavranezouli, I., et al. (2020)

Meta-analysis, N=6560

Psychological Medicine

SMD (network meta-analysis) = -1.69 — caveat: PTSD symptoms post-treatment vs waitlist, for the category labeled 'combined somatic and cognitive therapies' in the network meta-analysis — NOT a category the primary paper itself labels 'EFT' or 'Emotional Freedom Techniques'

Mavranezouli, I., Megnin-Viggars, O. et al. (2020)

Meta-analysis, N=2260

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Chen, W.T., Chao, T.Y. et al. (2025)

Meta-analysis, N=621

European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

Wright, S., Karyotaki, E. et al. (2024)

Meta-analysis, N=346

Psychological Medicine

Sebastian, B., Nelms, J. (2017)

Meta-analysis, N=247

Explore (NY)

weighted Cohen's d = 2.96

Brown, R.C., Witt, A. et al. (2017)

Meta-analysis, 36 studies

Psychological Medicine

Uzzi, C. (2021)

Systematic review, N=19232

Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research

Stapleton, P., Kip, K. et al. (2023)

Systematic review, N=280

Frontiers in Psychology

Hedges' g = 1.86

What tapping (EFT) is. A brief self-administered technique combining exposure and cognitive elements with fingertip stimulation of acupressure points. It is used as a self-help and adjunctive practice for stress and emotional regulation. Effect sizes above are tapping vs. a comparison group; d ≥ 0.8 is considered large. Limitations across this literature include variable use of active vs. waitlist controls and reliance on self-report measures. This summary is informational and not a substitute for clinical judgment.