The Tapping Evidence Base
Depression · Anxiety · Stress & Cortisol

Emotional Freedom Techniques for Postpartum Depression, Perceived Stress, and Anxiety

Robbins, N., Harvey, K., Moller, M. · Nursing for Women's Health · 2023

Outcome study👥 11 participantsPreliminary✓ Source-checked📍 United States
In plain English. Eleven new mothers who screened positive for postpartum depression and anxiety, while visiting a lactation clinic, took part in eight weeks of group tapping sessions. A month later, their depression, anxiety, and stress scores had all dropped significantly. It's a small, uncontrolled pilot in a group that badly needs more treatment options, so larger follow-up studies are the natural next step.

What they found

11
people took part

One month after eight weekly 1-hour group EFT sessions, there were statistically significant decreases in depression (p = .003), anxiety (p < .001), and perceived stress (p < .001).

How the study worked

Who took partmothers seeking lactation care who screened positive for postpartum depression and anxiety (n=11)
What they didParticipants received tapping and were measured before and after, without a separate comparison group.
Measured withSubjective Unit of Distress Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)

💡 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 depression 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
Participants11 people
Populationmothers seeking lactation care who screened positive for postpartum depression and anxiety
Outcome measuresSubjective Unit of Distress Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
JournalNursing for Women's Health
Year2023
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
MethodEFT / tapping
Publication typeStudy / trial
Verification✓ Confirmed against the primary source

Read the original study →

Cite this study

APA

Robbins, N., Harvey, K., & Moller, M. (2023). Emotional Freedom Techniques for Postpartum Depression, Perceived Stress, and Anxiety. Nursing for Women's Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nwh.2023.09.005

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 Depression · Anxiety · Stress & Cortisol

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THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE Depression 11 participants WHAT THEY FOUND One month after eight weekly 1-hour groupEFT sessions, there were statisticallysignificant decreases in depression… Outcome study · 11 participants Robbins · 2023 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com