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

Completed · Early Phase 1

Conditions studied: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01250431

Run by

Soul Medicine Institute

People needed

18

Starts

2010-11-01

Expected to finish

2017-11-01

Last updated by the study team

2018-04-25

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 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.

You may not qualify if…

• 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

Where it is running

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

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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