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Thought Field Therapy clinical applications: Utilization in an HMO in behavioral medicine and behavioral health services
Author(s) -
Sakai Caroline,
Paperny David,
Mathews Marvin,
Tanida Greg,
Boyd Geri,
Simons Alan,
Yamamoto Charlene,
Mau Carolyn,
Nutter Lynn
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.1088
Subject(s) - psychology , phobias , anxiety , distress , agoraphobia , panic disorder , psychiatry , clinical psychology , anxiety disorder
Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is a self‐administered treatment developed by psychologist Roger Callahan. TFT uses energy meridian treatment points and bilateral optical–cortical stimulation while focusing on the targeted symptoms or problem being addressed. The clinical applications of TFT summarized included anxiety, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, anxiety due to medical condition, anger, acute stress, bereavement, chronic pain, cravings, depression, fatigue, nausea, neurodermatitis, obsessive traits, panic disorder without agoraphobia, parent–child stress, phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, relationship stress, trichotillomania, tremor, and work stress. This uncontrolled study reports on changes in self‐reported Subjective Units of Distress (SUD; Wolpe, 1969) in 1,594 applications of TFT, treating 714 patients. Paired t ‐tests of pre‐ and posttreatment SUD were statistically significant in 31 categories reviewed. These within‐session decreases of SUD are preliminary data that call for controlled studies to examine validity, reliability, and maintenance of effects over time. Illustrative case and heart rate variability data are presented. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 57: 1215–1227, 2001.