The Tapping Evidence Base
PTSD & Trauma · Anxiety · Depression

Feasibility of Emotional Freedom Techniques in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study

Choi, Y., Kim, Y., Kwon, D.H., Choi, S., Choi, Y.E., Ahn, E.K. et al. · Journal of Pharmacopuncture · 2024

Outcome study👥 30 participants📈 Cohen's 1.06 (large)Preliminary✓ Source-checked📍 South Korea
In plain English. 30 adults with diagnosed PTSD, mostly survivors of physical or sexual violence, went through a course of tapping with no comparison group. Their PTSD symptoms dropped substantially, and their anxiety and depression scores improved too. As a feasibility pilot without a control group, this shows tapping is workable and worth testing further, not that it beats another treatment.

What they found

Cohen's = 1.06
a large effect · on PCL-5 total score change
smallmoderatelarge
00.50.82.5

PCL-5 scores fell from a mean of 50.7 to 36.9 (p<.0001, d=1.06); secondary measures also improved, including PHQ-9 depression (d=0.91) and GAD-7 anxiety (d=0.51).

How the study worked

Who took partadults age 19-65 with DSM-5-diagnosed PTSD, predominantly from civilian trauma (physical or sexual violence) (n=30)
What they didParticipants received tapping and were measured before and after, without a separate comparison group.
Measured withPCL-5, PHQ-9, GAD-7, PHQ-15, ISI

💡 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
Populationadults age 19-65 with DSM-5-diagnosed PTSD, predominantly from civilian trauma (physical or sexual violence)
Effect sizeCohen's dz = 1.06 — on PCL-5 total score change
Outcome measuresPCL-5, PHQ-9, GAD-7, PHQ-15, ISI
JournalJournal of Pharmacopuncture
Year2024
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageEnglish
MethodEFT / tapping
Publication typeStudy / trial
Verification✓ Confirmed against the primary source

Read the original study →

Cite this study

APA

Choi, Y., Kim, Y., Kwon, D.H., Choi, S., Choi, Y.E., Ahn, E.K., Cho, S.H., & Kim, H. (2024). Feasibility of Emotional Freedom Techniques in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study. Journal of Pharmacopuncture. https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2024.27.1.27

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 · Anxiety · Depression

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THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE PTSD & Trauma Cohen's 1.06 large effect WHAT THEY FOUND PCL-5 scores fell from a mean of 50.7 to36.9 (p<.0001, d=1.06); secondary measuresalso improved, including PHQ-9… Outcome study · 30 participants Choi · 2024 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com