Does emotional freedom techniques affect premenstrual syndrome? A randomized controlled study

January 8, 2025 EFT and health, EFT and PMS, EFT and premenstural syndrome, PMS, womens health

Citation: Özşahi̇n, Zeli̇ha & Güven Santur, Sinem & Karakayalı Ay, Çiğdem & Aksoy Derya, Yeşim. (2025). Does emotional freedom techniques affect premenstrual syndrome? A randomized controlled study. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. n/a-n/a. 10.1002/ijgo.16115.

Link to Abstract Only: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387724495_Does_emotional_freedom_techniques_affect_premenstrual_syndrome_A_randomized_controlled_study

Objective
The study was conducted to determine the effect of emotional freedom techniques (EFT) on the severity of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Methods
The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial, with a premenstrual syndrome sample comprising 78 single female students of reproductive age presenting with PMS complaints (40 in the experimental group and 38 in the control group). Students in the experimental group were interviewed individually in the week before their menstrual cycle and received two EFT sessions with a 3‐day interval.

Results
The participants in the experimental group had higher post‐test subjective units of experience (SUE) mean scores (experimental group mean 7.8 ± 1.7; control group mean 0.5 ± 5.7) and lower post‐test PMS total (experimental group mean 76.8 ± 30.1; control group mean 127.4 ± 34.6) and subscale mean scores than the students in the control group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In repeated measures analysis, time‐dependent change showed statistical significance between the groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion
The EFT was found to be an effective non‐pharmacologic intervention for coping with PMS.

Craig’s Comments: 

I am working to get a copy of this paper but in the meanwhile the good news is that it’s another randomized control trial which offers evidence for the efficacy of EFT, this time with regards to PMS related complaints. This trial was conducted at Inonu University in Turkey with 78 participants, 40 of whom received 2 EFT sessions within a 3 day period vs a waitlist control group. Given the statistical significance between the two groups, the authors recommend EFT to be be considered an effective non medication approach to women coping with pre-menstrual symptoms. Perhaps most exciting was the well recognized professional journal it was published in, the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics.