Group Therapies for PTSD

Overseen By Dawson Church

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase < 1

Sponsor: Soul Medicine Institute

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 8-12 weeks

100 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment for PTSD?

Research shows that Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can effectively reduce symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Studies, including randomized controlled trials, have demonstrated significant improvements in psychological distress for individuals using EFT. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is group therapy for PTSD, including techniques like EFT and CBT, safe for humans?

Research on Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for PTSD shows they are generally safe for humans, with no significant safety concerns reported in the studies. ^{1 3 5 6 7}

How is the group therapy treatment for PTSD using CBT and EFT different from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it combines Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) in a group setting, which can provide social support and shared experiences, potentially enhancing the therapeutic process compared to individual therapy. ^{1 8 9 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) and associated mental health conditions affect both veterans and their family members. This study investigates whether group therapy using EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) produce reductions in PTSD and comorbid symptoms.

Research Team

Dawson Church, PhD

Principal Investigator

Soul Medicine Institute

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for active duty military personnel, veterans, and their family members who can follow instructions, complete forms, and provide informed consent. Participants must be literate in English and physically healthy.

Inclusion Criteria

The ability to follow instructions, complete written forms, and provide informed consent. Subjects are required to be literate and understand English.

Exclusion Criteria

N/A

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive group therapy sessions using EFT and CBT

8-12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

12 months

Follow-up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy)
• EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)

Trial Overview The study compares the effectiveness of group therapies using Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to reduce PTSD symptoms in veterans and their families.

Participant Groups

Group I: EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

EFT group therapy sessions.

Group II: Wait List Active Control 1 Intervention

Wait Period corresponding in length to treatment period

Group III: CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) Active Control 1 Intervention

CBT group therapy sessions

CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Eating disorders
• Insomnia
• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Schizophrenia

Approved in United States as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Eating disorders
• Insomnia
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism
• Personality disorders

Approved in Canada as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Eating disorders
• Insomnia
• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Schizophrenia

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Soul Medicine Institute

Lead Sponsor

Trials

12

Recruited

650+

Findings from Research

A single session of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) combined with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) led to significant improvements in PTSD symptoms for a survivor of the Twin Towers collapse, as measured by the Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI) and Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI).

The participant experienced nearly complete symptom relief and was able to return to work after years of disability, highlighting the potential efficacy of combining these therapeutic approaches for treating complex PTSD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

World Trade Center: A longitudinal case study for treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with Emotional Freedom Technique and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Nicosia, GJ., Minewiser, L., Freger, A.[2019]

A single session of Thought Field Therapy (TFT) significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in 50 orphaned adolescents affected by the Rwandan genocide, with caregiver ratings showing a decrease in PTSD cutoffs from 100% to 6%.

The positive effects of TFT were sustained over a year, as indicated by follow-up checklists, and the therapy became integrated into the orphanage's culture, highlighting its long-term efficacy and acceptance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment of PTSD in Rwandan child genocide survivors using thought field therapy. Sakai, CE., Connolly, SM., Oas, P.[2015]

In a study involving 81 participants at EFT workshops, significant reductions in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms were observed, indicating that Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can effectively alleviate psychological distress.

Participants maintained their improvements for six months after treatment, demonstrating the long-term efficacy of EFT, with a moderate treatment effect size for PTSD (Cohen's d = 0.54).

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Borrowing Benefits: Group Treatment With Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques Is Associated With Simultaneous Reductions in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms. Church, D., House, D.[2019]

In a study of veterans with PTSD, those who received Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) showed significant reductions in psychological distress and PTSD symptoms, with 90% no longer meeting clinical criteria after treatment, compared to only 4% in the standard care waitlist group.

Long-term follow-up indicated that 86% of veterans who received EFT continued to not meet PTSD criteria after six sessions, demonstrating both the immediate and sustained efficacy of EFT in treating PTSD symptoms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychological trauma symptom improvement in veterans using emotional freedom techniques: a randomized controlled trial. Church, D., Hawk, C., Brooks, AJ., et al.[2019]

A meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials found that emotional freedom techniques (EFT) significantly reduce PTSD symptoms, with a large treatment effect size of Cohen's d = 2.96, indicating strong efficacy compared to usual care or waitlist controls.

EFT was shown to be safe, with no reported adverse effects, and can be effectively used both as a self-help method and as a primary treatment for PTSD across various populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Techniques in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Meta-Analysis. Sebastian, B., Nelms, J.[2018]

This clinical trial will assess the effectiveness of the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) in treating PTSD in 120 patients, comparing it to written exposure therapy (WET) and a waitlist control group over a 5-week treatment period.

The primary goal is to measure changes in PTSD symptoms using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale after treatment, which will help clarify the efficacy and potential mechanisms of EFT in managing PTSD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotional freedom technique versus written exposure therapy versus waiting list for post-traumatic stress disorder: protocol for a randomised clinical MRI study. Choi, Y., Kim, Y., Choi, S., et al.[2023]

Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) show significant effectiveness in treating PTSD, with large effect sizes (1.38 to 2.51) when compared to waitlist or no treatment controls, based on a systematic review of six randomized clinical trials.

When compared to other active therapies, EFT produced similar treatment results, indicating it can be an effective alternative or complement to established evidence-based therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Stapleton, P., Kip, K., Church, D., et al.[2023]

A 16-week group treatment for PTSD involving 86 women veterans showed significant improvements in PTSD symptoms, with 77% of participants experiencing a clinically meaningful response and 52% losing their PTSD diagnosis, indicating high efficacy of the group format.

The treatment also enhanced mental and physical functioning and quality of life, suggesting that group therapy can be as effective as individual treatments, particularly with the structured use of cognitive, exposure, and skills modules.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Group-delivered cognitive/exposure therapy for PTSD in women veterans: A randomized controlled trial. Castillo, DT., Chee, CL., Nason, E., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 108 active duty military personnel, group cognitive processing therapy (CPT-C) was found to be more effective than group present-centered therapy (PCT) in reducing PTSD symptoms and also significantly improved depression levels, with benefits lasting through follow-up assessments.

Both therapies were well tolerated with few adverse events, highlighting the potential of group therapy as a valuable treatment option for military personnel suffering from PTSD, especially in settings with limited access to individual therapists.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized clinical trial of group cognitive processing therapy compared with group present-centered therapy for PTSD among active duty military personnel. Resick, PA., Wachen, JS., Mintz, J., et al.[2022]

In a study of 6735 veterans, those receiving individual cognitive processing therapy (CPT) showed a statistically greater reduction in PTSD symptoms at discharge compared to those in group CPT, although the difference was less than the clinically important threshold.

By the 4-month follow-up, there were no significant differences in PTSD symptom severity between the group and individual therapy participants, suggesting that both treatment formats may ultimately lead to similar long-term outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparative effectiveness of group v. individual trauma-focused treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans. Spiller, TR., Duek, O., Buta, E., et al.[2023]

In a study of 268 active-duty servicemembers, individual cognitive processing therapy (CPT) was found to be more effective than group CPT in reducing PTSD severity, with significant improvements noted immediately after treatment.

Both individual and group formats of CPT led to reductions in depression and suicidal ideation, but about 50% of participants still experienced PTSD symptoms after treatment, highlighting the need for improved or new therapeutic options in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Group vs Individual Cognitive Processing Therapy in Active-Duty Military Seeking Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Resick, PA., Wachen, JS., Dondanville, KA., et al.[2022]

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

World Trade Center: A longitudinal case study for treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with Emotional Freedom Technique and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment of PTSD in Rwandan child genocide survivors using thought field therapy. [2015]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Borrowing Benefits: Group Treatment With Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques Is Associated With Simultaneous Reductions in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychological trauma symptom improvement in veterans using emotional freedom techniques: a randomized controlled trial. [2019]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Techniques in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Meta-Analysis. [2018]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotional freedom technique versus written exposure therapy versus waiting list for post-traumatic stress disorder: protocol for a randomised clinical MRI study. [2023]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Group-delivered cognitive/exposure therapy for PTSD in women veterans: A randomized controlled trial. [2019]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized clinical trial of group cognitive processing therapy compared with group present-centered therapy for PTSD among active duty military personnel. [2022]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparative effectiveness of group v. individual trauma-focused treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans. [2023]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Group vs Individual Cognitive Processing Therapy in Active-Duty Military Seeking Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. [2022]