EFT Research & Evidence Base 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which standardized scale is most frequently used in EFT phobia and anxiety research to measure fear intensity?
- Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
- Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) (Correct answer)
- Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)
- State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
Correct answer: Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS)
SUDS (0–10 self-report scale) is the primary in-session measure used in EFT research and practice to track real-time distress reduction.
Question 2: A randomized controlled trial by Stapleton et al. (2016) demonstrated EFT's effectiveness for which condition related to eating behavior?
- Binge eating disorder
- Food cravings and emotional eating (Correct answer)
- Anorexia nervosa
- Orthorexia
Correct answer: Food cravings and emotional eating
Stapleton et al. (2016) found EFT significantly reduced food cravings and emotional eating compared to a waitlist control.
Question 3: What does the EFT 'Gold Standard' research protocol require to distinguish EFT from confounding variables?
- Blinded raters, manualized EFT, and an active control group (Correct answer)
- Self-report only with large sample sizes
- Neuroimaging confirmation and biomarker testing
- Minimum of 10 EFT sessions per participant
Correct answer: Blinded raters, manualized EFT, and an active control group
Gold Standard EFT research uses a manualized (standardized) protocol, blinded outcome raters, and active or waitlist controls to isolate EFT's effects.
Question 4: In gene expression studies on EFT (Church et al., 2012), which category of genes showed measurable upregulation after treatment?
- Genes related to inflammation and immune response (Correct answer)
- Genes regulating metabolism and appetite
- Tumor suppressor genes
- Genes linked to memory consolidation
Correct answer: Genes related to inflammation and immune response
Church et al. found that EFT influenced gene expression related to immunity and inflammation, suggesting downstream biological effects.
Question 5: How does EFT research typically address the placebo concern that practitioner attention alone drives improvement?
- By using self-administered EFT conditions with no practitioner present
- By including an active control group receiving equivalent attention without tapping (Correct answer)
- By excluding all practitioner contact from study designs
- By restricting studies to online delivery only
Correct answer: By including an active control group receiving equivalent attention without tapping
Active control groups (e.g., supportive listening or diaphragmatic breathing) receive the same practitioner time, isolating tapping as the variable.
Question 6: Which psychological disorder was the focus of the first Cochrane-style systematic review of EFT, published in 2019 by Clond?
- Major depressive disorder
- Anxiety disorders (Correct answer)
- Phobias
- PTSD
Correct answer: Anxiety disorders
Clond (2016) published a systematic review and meta-analysis showing EFT produced large effect sizes for anxiety disorders across multiple RCTs.
Question 7: What does a large effect size (Cohen's d > 0.8) indicate in EFT outcome research?
- The study had a large sample size
- EFT produced a substantial, clinically meaningful change relative to the comparison condition (Correct answer)
- Results were statistically significant but not clinically relevant
- The control group also improved significantly
Correct answer: EFT produced a substantial, clinically meaningful change relative to the comparison condition
Cohen's d > 0.8 indicates a large practical difference between EFT and comparison groups, suggesting meaningful clinical benefit beyond chance.
EFT Research & Evidence Base 3
Which standardized scale is most frequently used in EFT phobia and anxiety research to measure fear intensity?