Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: Mar 3, 2020
Date Accepted: Jun 4, 2020
Date Submitted to PubMed: Aug 30, 2020
App-based Delivery of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques Reduces Anxiety and Stress: Cross-sectional Study of App User Self-Ratings
ABSTRACT
Background:
The burgeoning area of mobile health (mHealth) has experienced rapid growth in mobile applications (apps) designed to address mental health issues. While abundant apps offer strategies for managing symptoms of anxiety and stress, information regarding their efficacy is scarce.
Objective:
This study assessed the effect of a mHealth app on self-ratings of psychological distress in a sample of 270,461 participants (aged 18–65+ years). The Tapping Solution App guided users through the therapeutic protocols of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), an evidence-based psycho-physiological intervention that combines acupressure with elements of cognitive and exposure therapies.
Methods:
App users provided self-ratings of emotional intensity pre and post app sessions (termed “tapping meditations”) using an 11-point Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) scale. User data for 23 tapping meditations that addressed psychological symptoms of anxiety and stress were gathered over the course of 12 months, totalling 380,034 completed app sessions.
Results:
Across 12 anxiety tapping meditations, the difference in emotional intensity ratings from pre-session (M = 6.66, SD = .25) to post-session (M = 3.75, SD = .30) was statistically significant, P > .001. Across 11 stress tapping meditations, a statistically significant difference was also found from pre-session (M = 6.91, SD = .48) to post-session (M = 3.83, SD = .54), P > .001. Results are consistent with the literature on the efficacy of Clinical EFT for anxiety and stress when offered in conventional therapeutic formats.
Conclusions:
Findings provide preliminary support for the effectiveness of the mHealth app in the immediate reduction of self-rated psychological distress. As an adjunct to professional mental health care, the app promises accessible and convenient therapeutic benefits.anxiety; stress; meditation; mobile health (mHealth); Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Clinical Trial: Nil
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