The Tapping Evidence Base
PTSD & Trauma · Other Physical Conditions

Does combining Emotional Freedom Techniques and Hypnosis have an effect on sexual assault-specific posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms?

Anderson, K., Rubik, B., Absenger, W. · Energy Psychology Journal · 2019

Outcome study👥 30 participantsPreliminary✓ Source-checked📍 United States
In plain English. 30 people with sexual-assault-related PTSD tried a combination of EFT tapping and hypnosis over four sessions, and their PTSD symptom scores dropped by about a third on average. There was no comparison group, so we can't separate the specific contribution of tapping from hypnosis or from simply receiving attentive therapy.

What they found

30
people took part

A paired samples t-test found t(29) = 12.198, p<.001, indicating an overall decrease of 34.3% in PTSD symptom severity based on PCL-5 scores after four sessions combining EFT and hypnosis.

How the study worked

Who took part30 individuals with self-identified sexual assault-specific PTSD (n=30)
What they didParticipants received tapping and were measured before and after, without a separate comparison group.
Measured withPCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5)

💡 Where this could help

If findings like these hold up in larger trials, the promise is simple: a low-cost, self-administered tool that could reach people struggling with PTSD & trauma who can't easily access traditional care — at home, between appointments, or where there aren't enough clinicians to go around.

🔬 What to study next

The natural next step: a head-to-head trial against an established treatment like CBT, and a larger sample to confirm the effect.

The full record

DesignOutcome study
Participants30 people
Population30 individuals with self-identified sexual assault-specific PTSD
Outcome measuresPCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5)
JournalEnergy Psychology Journal
Year2019
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
MethodEFT / tapping
Publication typeStudy / trial
Verification✓ Confirmed against the primary source

Read the original study →

Cite this study

APA

Anderson, K., Rubik, B., & Absenger, W. (2019). Does combining Emotional Freedom Techniques and Hypnosis have an effect on sexual assault-specific posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms?. Energy Psychology Journal. https://doi.org/10.9769/EPJ.2019.11.2.KA

This record is part of the Tapping Evidence Base — an openly-sourced, fully-referenced directory of the research on EFT/tapping. Explore more studies on PTSD & Trauma · Other Physical Conditions

Share this study

A ready-made graphic — right-click or long-press to save the image.

Show shareable card
THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE PTSD & Trauma 30 participants WHAT THEY FOUND A paired samples t-test found t(29) =12.198, p<.001, indicating an overalldecrease of 34.3% in PTSD symptom… Outcome study · 30 participants Anderson · 2019 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com