The DOI matches its Crossref record; 37 of the 37 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on Stress Biochemistry: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
This study examined the changes in cortisol levels and psychological distress symptoms of 83 nonclinical subjects receiving a single hour long intervention. Subjects were randomly assigned to either an emotional freedom technique (EFT) group, a psychotherapy group receiving a supportive interviews (SI), or a no treatment (NT) group. Salivary cortisol assays were performed immediately before and 30 minutes after the intervention. Psychological distress symptoms were assessed using the symptom assessment-45. The EFT group showed statistically significant improvements in anxiety (-58.34%, p < 0.05), depression (-49.33%, p < 0.002), the overall severity of symptoms (-50.5%, p < 0.001), and symptom breadth (-41.93%, p < 0.001). The EFT group experienced a significant decrease in cortisol level (-24.39%; SE, 2.62) compared with the decrease observed in the SI (-14.25%; SE, 2.61) and NT (-14.44%; SE, 2.67) groups (p < 0.03). The decrease in cortisol levels in the EFT group mirrored the observed improvement in psychological distress.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Breathing interventions—including controlled breathing, slow-breathing techniques (from yoga and other Eastern disciplines), coherence breathing, brahmari breathing (“bee breath,” also from yoga), and breathing at ones resonant frequency—utilize a decrease in respiratory rate, prolonged expiration (pranayama), breathing against airway resistance, or vibration of the airway to reduce physiological”
From Fear and the Defense Cascade (2015) · cites this paper as [145]
In the citing paper
“The other dimensions of breathing interventions—for example, the use of resistance or vibrations—are likely to engage a different mechanism, the peripheral activation of vagal lung afferents.145,147”
From Fear and the Defense Cascade (2015) · cites this paper as [145]
In the citing paper
“Since memories of past trauma can activate the body’s arousal systems—resulting in arousal, the precondition of activating the defense cascade”
From Fear and the Defense Cascade (2015) · cites this paper as [186]
In the citing paper
“When traumatic memories are successfully processed, the physiological markers of arousal likewise decrease.160,182–186”
From Fear and the Defense Cascade (2015) · cites this paper as [186]
In the citing paper
“Arousal in response to the traumatic script also decreases.183–186”
From Fear and the Defense Cascade (2015) · cites this paper as [186]
Citations
Cites
Salivary cortisol as a biomarker in stress research
Hellhammer, D. H., Wüst, S., & Kudielka, B. M. (2009) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.10.026 · Cited by 1,925
Salivary Cortisol in Psychobiological Research: An Overview
Kirschbaum, C., & Hellhammer, D. H. (2008) · Neuropsychobiology · doi:10.1159/000118611 · Cited by 1,532
Cherkin, D. C., Sherman, K. J., Avins, A. L., Erro, J. H., Ichikawa, L., Barlow, W. E., Delaney, K. M., Hawkes, R. J., Hamilton, L., Pressman, A. R., et al. (2009) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2009.65 · Cited by 440
Gaab, J., Blättler, N., Menzi, T., Pabst, B., Stoyer, S., & Ehlert, U. (2003) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/s0306-4530(02)00069-0 · Cited by 309
Fang, J., Jin, Z., Wang, Y., Li, K., Kong, J., Nixon, E. E., Zeng, Y., Ren, Y., Tong, H., Wang, Y., et al. (2008) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.20583 · Cited by 307
Depression gets old fast: do stress and depression accelerate cell aging?
Wolkowitz, O. M., Epel, E. S., Reus, V. I., & Mellon, S. H. (2010) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.20686 · Cited by 298
Effects of guided imagery and music (GIM) therapy on mood and cortisol in healthy adults.
McKinney, C. H., Antoni, M. H., Kumar, M., Tims, F. C., & al, E. (1997) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037//0278-6133.16.4.390 · Cited by 263
Effects of guided imagery and music (GIM) therapy on mood and cortisol in healthy adults.
McKinney, C. H., Antoni, M. H., Kumar, M., Tims, F. C., & McCabe, P. M. (1997) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/0278-6133.16.4.390 · Cited by 263
A call to action: overcoming anxiety through active coping.
LeDoux, J. E., & Gorman, J. M. (2001) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.158.12.1953 · Cited by 238
Hypothalamus and amygdala response to acupuncture stimuli in carpal tunnel syndrome
Napadow, V., Kettner, N. W., Liu, J., Li, M., Kwong, K. K., Vangel, M. G., Makris, N., Audette, J. F., & Hui, K. K. S. (2007) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2006.12.003 · Cited by 214
van der Kolk, B. A. (1988) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1007/bf00974765 · Cited by 202
Kendall-Tackett, K. A. (2009) · Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy · doi:10.1037/a0015128 · Cited by 201
Cortisol Activity and Cognitive Changes in Psychotic Major Depression
Belanoff, J. K., Kalehzan, M., Sund, B., Ficek, S. K., & Schatzberg, A. F. (2001) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.158.10.1612 · Cited by 181
Changes in cortisol and DHEA plasma levels after psychotherapy for PTSD
Olff, M., de Vries, G.-J., Güzelcan, Y., Assies, J., & Gersons, B. P. R. (2007) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.04.001 · Cited by 159
Davison, M. L., Bershadsky, B., Bieber, J., Silversmith, D., Maruish, M. E., & Kane, R. L. (1997) · Assessment · doi:10.1177/107319119700400306 · Cited by 143
Wells, S., Polglase, K., Andrews, H. B., Carrington, P., & Baker, A. (2003) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.10189 · Cited by 137
Karatzias, T., Power, K., Brown, K. W., McGoldrick, T., Begum, M., Young, J., Loughran, P., Chouliara, Z., & Adams, S. (2011) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/nmd.0b013e31821cd262 · Cited by 119
Psychotherapy Outcome Research
Behar, E., & Borkovec, T. (2003) · Handbook of Psychology · doi:10.1002/0471264385.wei0209 · Cited by 113
Cruess, D. G., Antoni, M. H., Kumar, M., & Schneiderman, N. (2000) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1023/a:1005419917023 · Cited by 92
The Neurochemistry of Counterconditioning: Acupressure Desensitization in Psychotherapy
Lane, J. D. (2009) · Energy Psychology · doi:10.9769/epj.2009.1.1.jrl · Cited by 91
Thase, M. E., Dubé, S., Bowler, K., Howland, R. H., Myers, J. E., Friedman, E. S., & Jarrett, D. B. (1996) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.153.7.886 · Cited by 80
Updating working memory for words: A PET activation study
Clark, C. R., Egan, G. F., McFARLANE, A. C., Morris, P. E., Weber, D. L., Sonkkilla, C., Marcina, J., & Tochon‐Danguy, H. (2000) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0193(2000)9:1 · Cited by 79
Rapid treatment of PTSD: Why psychological exposure with acupoint tapping may be effective.
Feinstein, D. L. (2010) · Psychotherapy · doi:10.1037/a0021171 · Cited by 76
Positive behaviors during marital conflict: Influences on stress hormones
Robles, T. F., Shaffer, V. A., Malarkey, W. B., & Kiecolt‐Glaser, J. K. (2006) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/0265407506062482 · Cited by 71
Associations between the cortisol awakening response and heart rate variability
Tobias Stalder, A., Evans, P. D., Hucklebridge, F. H., & Clow, A. (2010) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.07.020 · Cited by 64
Church, D. (2009) · Traumatology An International Journal · doi:10.1177/1534765609347549 · Cited by 61
Feinstein, D. L., & Church, D. (2010) · Review of General Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0021252 · Cited by 57
Salas, M. M., Brooks, A. J., & Rowe, J. E. (2011) · EXPLORE · doi:10.1016/j.explore.2011.02.005 · Cited by 54
Effects of Relaxation and Stress on the Capsaicin-Induced Local Inflammatory Response
Lutgendorf, S. K., Logan, H. L., Kirchner, H., Rothrock, N. E., Svengalis, S., Iverson, K., & Lubaroff, D. M. (2000) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/00006842-200007000-00011 · Cited by 53
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF A MIND/BODY THERAPY ON CLAUSTROPHOBIA
Lambrou, P., Pratt, G. J., & Chevalier, G. (2003) · Subtle energies & energy medicine · Cited by 52
Energy psychology in disaster relief.
Feinstein, D. L. (2008) · Traumatology An International Journal · doi:10.1177/1534765608315636 · Cited by 44
Haren, M. T., Malmstrom, T. K., Banks, W. A., Patrick, P., Miller, D. K., & Morley, J. E. (2007) · Maturitas · doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2007.03.003 · Cited by 42
Longitudinal course of salivary cortisol in post‐traumatic stress disorder
Kellner, M. B., Yehuda, R., Arlt, J., & Wiedemann, K. (2002) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1034/j.1600-0447.2002.01012.x · Cited by 39
Lester, S. R., Brown, J. R., Aycock, J. E., Grubbs, S. L., & Johnson, R. B. (2010) · Anatomical Sciences Education · doi:10.1002/ase.161 · Cited by 34
Impact of acute psychosocial stress on peripheral blood gene expression pathways in healthy men☆
Nater, U. M., Whistler, T., Lonergan, W., Mletzko, T., Vernon, S. D., & Heim, C. C. (2009) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2009.06.009 · Cited by 29
The neurobiology of stress and its relevance to psychotherapy
Gold, P. W. (2005) · Clinical Neuroscience Research · doi:10.1016/j.cnr.2005.03.006 · Cited by 24
Oschman, J. L. (2005) · Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies · doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2005.10.001 · Cited by 10
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- Baker, 2010, Emotional freedom techniques (EFT) reduces intense fears: A partial replication and extension of Wells, Polglase, Andrews, Carrington, Baker (2003)., Energy Psychol Theory Res Treat, 2, 13
- Dardik, 1996, The origin of disease and health, heart waves: The single solution to heart rate variability and ischemic preconditioning., Cycles, 46, 67
- Gallo, 2009, Energy psychology in rehabilitation: Origins, applications, and theory., Energy Psychol Theory Res Treat, 1, 57
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Kozlowska, K., Walker, P., McLean, L., & Carrive, P. (2015) · Harvard Review of Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/hrp.0000000000000065 · Cited by 468
Emotional Freedom Techniques for Anxiety
Clond, M. A. (2016) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/nmd.0000000000000483 · Cited by 139
Church, D., Hawk, C., Brooks, A. J., Toukolehto, O., Wren, M., Dinter, & Stein, P. (2013) · Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/nmd.0b013e31827f6351 · Cited by 131
Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of Health
Bach, D., Groesbeck, G., Stapleton, P., Sims, R., Blickheuser, K., & Church, D. (2019) · Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine · doi:10.1177/2515690x18823691 · Cited by 118
Sebastian, B., & Nelms, J. A. (2016) · EXPLORE · doi:10.1016/j.explore.2016.10.001 · Cited by 113
Metadata
- Authors
- Church, D., Yount, G., & Brooks, A. J.
- Affiliations
- Fetal Medicine Foundation (GB)
- California Pacific Medical Center (US)
- University of Arizona (US)
- Corresponding author
- Church, Dawson
- Venue
- Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease
- Published
- 2012-10
- Volume
- 200
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 891-896
- ISSN
- 0022-3018 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2041489646
- Cited by
- 115
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 3.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Keywords
- Emotional Freedom Technique, salivary cortisol, psychological distress, anxiety, depression
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anxiety, Depression, Emotions, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Middle Aged, Psychotherapy, Saliva, Stress, Psychological
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
