The Tapping Evidence Base
Multiple Conditions

Trends in Meridian-Based Psychotherapy Focused on Research of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

Kim, S.-Y., In, C.-S., Choi, I.-W., Kim, J.-W. · Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry (동의신경정신과학회지) · 2013

Review📚 24 studies reviewedPreliminary✓ Source-checked📍 South Korea
In plain English. Korean researchers rounded up 24 published studies on tapping — mostly randomized trials, plus some case reports and reviews — and summarized what they found. Anxiety was the most-studied problem, and in most of the controlled studies tapping beat the comparison approach (whether that was a waiting list, breathing exercises, or standard treatment) on things like headaches, PTSD symptoms, and quality of life. The reviewers themselves noted a real limitation: most of these studies relied on what patients reported feeling rather than independent clinical measurement, so they called for more rigorous follow-up research.

What they found

24
studies reviewed

This narrative review identified 24 EFT studies (5 reviews, 11 RCTs, 3 controlled trials, 1 single-group comparison, 4 case reports); anxiety disorders were the most-studied condition, and in the 12 controlled studies EFT showed significantly superior effects to comparators (general treatment, waitlist, diaphragmatic breathing, education) on headache, PTSD, physical symptoms, and quality-of-life measures, though the review noted most included studies relied on subjective self-report without objective clinical evaluation.

How the study worked

Who took partMixed clinical populations across 24 EFT studies identified from domestic Korean databases and PubMed
What they didThis is a review or commentary synthesizing existing work rather than reporting a new trial.
Measured withvarious: anxiety, insomnia, depression, pain scales depending on included study

The full record

DesignReview
Participants24 studies pooled
PopulationMixed clinical populations across 24 EFT studies identified from domestic Korean databases and PubMed
Outcome measuresvarious: anxiety, insomnia, depression, pain scales depending on included study
JournalJournal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry (동의신경정신과학회지)
Year2013
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
MethodEFT / tapping
Publication typeReview or meta-analysis
Verification✓ Confirmed against the primary source

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Cite this study

APA

Kim, S.-Y., In, C.-S., Choi, I.-W., & Kim, J.-W. (2013). Trends in Meridian-Based Psychotherapy Focused on Research of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry (동의신경정신과학회지).

This record is part of the Tapping Evidence Base — an openly-sourced, fully-referenced directory of the research on EFT/tapping.

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THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE Multiple Conditions 24 studies pooled WHAT THEY FOUND This narrative review identified 24 EFTstudies (5 reviews, 11 RCTs, 3 controlledtrials, 1 single-group comparison… Review · 24 studies Kim · 2013 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com