The Tapping Evidence Base
PTSD & Trauma

Commentary: Emotional Freedom Techniques for Treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pfund, R.A., Boness, C.L., Tolin, D.F. · Frontiers in Psychology · 2024

ReviewPreliminary✓ Source-checked📍 United States
In plain English. A group of researchers published a formal critique of the 2023 EFT-for-PTSD meta-analysis, raising questions about which studies were included, the reliance on self-report rather than clinician interviews, and a financial conflict of interest for one of the review's authors. These are open questions worth being upfront about rather than resolved criticisms — we include them here rather than leaving them out.

What they found

The commentary notes that 5 of the 6 studies (83%) in Stapleton et al. 2023 had already appeared in Sebastian & Nelms 2017 without explanation for excluding two other prior trials, that all included trials relied on self-report rather than clinician-administered diagnostic interviews, that EFT is not on the APA Division 12 list of empirically supported treatments, and raises a conflict-of-interest concern regarding a lead author's paid EFT training business.

How the study worked

Who took partcommentary on Stapleton et al. 2023 meta-analysis, not a primary study
What they didThis is a review or commentary synthesizing existing work rather than reporting a new trial.

The full record

DesignReview
Populationcommentary on Stapleton et al. 2023 meta-analysis, not a primary study
JournalFrontiers in Psychology
Year2024
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
MethodEFT / tapping
Publication typeReview or meta-analysis
Verification✓ Confirmed against the primary source

Read the original study →

Cite this study

APA

Pfund, R.A., Boness, C.L., & Tolin, D.F. (2024). Commentary: Emotional Freedom Techniques for Treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1308687

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

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 ✓ Review WHAT THEY FOUND The commentary notes that 5 of the 6 studies(83%) in Stapleton et al. 2023 had alreadyappeared in Sebastian & Nelms… Review Pfund · 2024 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com