The Tapping Evidence Base
PTSD & Trauma · Other Physical Conditions

Applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Thought Field Therapy in Kurdistan region of Iraq: A retrospective case series study of mental-health interventions in a setting of political instability and armed conflicts

Seidi, P.A., Jaff, D., Connolly, S.M., Hoffart, A. · Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing · 2021

Case series👥 31 participants⚖️ vs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (n=13) vs Thought Field Therapy (n=11), plus 7 CBT non-responders who then received TFTPreliminary✓ Source-checked📍 Iraq
In plain English. In a conflict-affected region of Iraq with scarce mental health resources, this retrospective look at case files found that clients who got Thought Field Therapy (tapping-related) improved much more consistently than those who got standard CBT, and CBT non-responders improved once switched to TFT. This is a retrospective case series without randomization, so the comparison between treatments could be affected by which patients happened to get which therapy.

What they found

31
people took part

All 11 clients who received only Thought Field Therapy showed improvement; of 13 CBT clients only 1 improved; 7 CBT non-responders who then received TFT also improved.

How the study worked

Who took part31 clients in the Garmian region, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (n=31)
What they didThis is a detailed report following a small number of individual cases through tapping.
Compared withCognitive Behavioral Therapy (n=13) vs Thought Field Therapy (n=11), plus 7 CBT non-responders who then received TFT
Measured withclinician-assessed symptom improvement

💡 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 larger sample to confirm the effect, and a randomized controlled design.

The full record

DesignCase series
Participants31 people
Population31 clients in the Garmian region, Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Comparison groupCognitive Behavioral Therapy (n=13) vs Thought Field Therapy (n=11), plus 7 CBT non-responders who then received TFT
Outcome measuresclinician-assessed symptom improvement
JournalExplore: The Journal of Science and Healing
Year2021
CountryIraq
LanguageEnglish
MethodThought Field Therapy (related tapping method)
Publication typeCase report
Verification✓ Confirmed against the primary source

Read the original study →

Cite this study

APA

Seidi, P.A., Jaff, D., Connolly, S.M., & Hoffart, A. (2021). Applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Thought Field Therapy in Kurdistan region of Iraq: A retrospective case series study of mental-health interventions in a setting of political instability and armed conflicts. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.06.003

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

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THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE PTSD & Trauma 31 participants WHAT THEY FOUND All 11 clients who received only ThoughtField Therapy showed improvement; of 13 CBTclients only 1 improved; 7 CBT… Case series · 31 participants Seidi · 2021 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com