Cancer patients frequently experience both physical and psychological challenges, including chronic pain and depression. While conventional treatments primarily often rely on pharmacological interventions, complementary approaches such as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) do not and are claimed to help alleviate both physical and psychological distress.
This randomized clinical trial aimed to assess the effects of EFT on pain and depression in individuals with cancer. It was conducted in the oncology ward of a high-capacity hospital in eastern Turkey between December 2023 and March 2024. Seventy cancer patients were randomly assigned to either the EFT group (n = 35) or the control group (n = 35). The EFT group received four structured 30-min sessions over two weeks, led by a certified EFT practitioner, with symptom reassessment after each session. The control group received routine care. Data were collected using a Participant Information Form, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after the intervention.
The results show that VAS scores in the EFT group significantly decreased from 4.82 ± 2.47 to 2.44 ± 1.97 (p < 0.05), whereas the control group showed a smaller reduction from 5.36 ± 2.42 to 4.25 ± 2.75 (p > 0.05). BDI scores in the EFT group improved significantly, decreasing from 31.44 ± 17.68 to 18.44 ± 7.0 (p < 0.05), while the control group’s scores increased from 27.94 ± 16.26 to 31.42 ± 12.65 (p > 0.05).
The authors conclused that these findings suggest that EFT was effective in significantly reducing both pain and depression levels in cancer patients.
We have encountered the EFT several times before, e.g.:
- Emotional Freedom Technique, a combination of two types of BS
- Emotional Freedom Techniques: More ‘alternative facts’ from ‘The Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine’
- Beware of the ‘new-born holists’
- Overcome the trauma of war with unproven treatments?
I had assumed it to be pure BS – but does this new study prove my assumption wrong?
Not really!
The trial is quite simply false-positive. The reason lies in the often-discussed A+B versus B design. It makes sure that even dubious BS like the EFT generates a positive result when tested in a seemingly rigorous study.
In view of this, let me re-phrase the conclusions by simplt adding two words:
these findings do not suggest that EFT was effective in significantly reducing both pain and depression levels in cancer patients.
3 Responses to Emotional Freedom Technique for pain and depression in cancer patients?
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A shame the authors muddled ‘pain’ with ‘psychological distress’ – perhaps deliberately?
Of course any kindness, expression of concern, love and attention can assist ‘distress’ – it says ‘Placebo Response’ on every tin of EFT.
But there is no evidence here that EFT (tapping the body, principally, the face) made any difference whatsoever to patients’ ‘pain’.
Sigh.
I guess the ‘practitioner’ was certified alright!
It would be useful for another group given a more conventional talking therapy to be included.
When I did a counselling course years back it was pretty clear from various papers I read at the time that theoretical models were of less importance than the relationship between counsellor and punter, or at least how that relationship was perceived by the client.
Seems to me that the “treatment” group in this one could just be responding to extra care and attention rather than the actual EFT.
I agree.