Gene Expression Correlates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptom Change After EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)

Gene Expression Correlates of PTSD Symptom Change After EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques): A Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of the study is to measure the change in psychological symptoms and gene expression in war veterans after a series of 10 EFT coaching sessions. Outcome studies have shown statistically significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and PTSD in veterans after EFT, and this study extends earlier research using biological sampling. EFT is a form of Energy Psychology (EP) that is sometimes referred to as "emotional acupuncture." It involves self-stimulation of 14 acupuncture points at the end of meridians with the fingertips, while recalling an emotional event such as a combat trauma. It is typically effective in 6 to 15 coaching sessions, making it an efficient clinical technique for reducing affect.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)

Detailed Description

There is peer-reviewed published experimental evidence showing that (a) acupuncture reduces the fear response in the brain, especially the limbic system, and most particularly the amygdala; that (b) tapping or rubbing acupuncture points (acupressure) can be as effective as needling them; that (c) EFTs use of such acupressure is efficacious in reducing anxiety, PTSD and other mood disorders; that (d) EFT reliably reduces emotional intensity associated with traumatic memories, is safe and low-risk; that (e) all EP studies that included a long-term follow-up show that patient gains are maintained over time; that (f) the psychological questionnaires used in this study are validated and safe; and that for all these reasons (g) EP is a treatment of choice among therapists when dealing with the traumatic memories of clients. This study extends these findings by noting changes in gene expression associated with the remission of PTSD symptoms.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 18
• Phase: Early Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Santa Rosa, California, United States, 95404
      • Soul Medicine Institute

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Military Service
• The ability to follow instructions, complete written forms, understand English, and provide informed consent. Subjects are required to be literate and understand English.
• Remaining under the care of a primary care provider such as a VA hospital throughout the entire period of the study
• Between 18 and 80 years old. No children will be research subjects in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• A current or past physical or psychiatric disorder that would preclude their being able to respond to the psychosocial measures adequately, or to give blood safely (i.e. cognitive dysfunction, psychosis, or any blood or bleeding disorder)
• Regularly work a night or graveyard shift (to avoid effects of alterations in circadian rhythm)
• Inability to come into the San Francisco laboratory for an afternoon for testing
• Immunomodulatory disorders (e.g. AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus) or cancer history
• Aggressive chronic periodontitis
• Antibiotics within the last 3 months prior to the recruitment date
• A score of more than 4 on questions 34 and 35 of the SA-45:

Having urges to beat, injure, or harm someone Having urges to break or smash things

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Screening
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques); 10 sessions of EFT.	Behavioral: EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques); 10 EFT sessions
No Intervention: Wait List; 10 week wait period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
QRT-PCR Assessment of Gene Expression Associated with Psychological Symptoms of Traumatic Stress	For the experimental group, the first data point is immediately before the first EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) session. The second data point is immediately after the last of 10 weekly sessions. The control group is assessed at intake, and after 10 weeks.	Pre-intervention and Post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Soul Medicine Institute
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Garret Yount, PhD, Soul Medicine Institute

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Church D, Yount G, Rachlin K, Fox L, Nelms J. Epigenetic Effects of PTSD Remediation in Veterans Using Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Am J Health Promot. 2018 Jan;32(1):112-122. doi: 10.1177/0890117116661154. Epub 2016 Aug 12.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 24, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 29, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): November 30, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 25, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2018
• Last Verified: April 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• Other Study ID Numbers: SMI-YOUNT-11/24/10