The impact of emotional freedom techniques on anxiety, depression, and anticipatory grief in people with cancer: A meta-analysis and systematic review

Abstract

Objective

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a self-healing method that combines Eastern meridian acupuncture and Western psychology. This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of EFT in reducing anxiety, depression, and anticipatory grief symptoms in people with cancer.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted across nine databases, including Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CBM, WeiPu, CNKI, and WanFang, up to May 2024. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focused on EFT's effects on psychological symptoms and well-being in people with cancer. Eligible RCTs were screened, quality-assessed, and analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software.

Results

From 1026 articles, ten RCTs met the inclusion criteria, involving 774 patients (388 in the EFT group and 386 in the control group). EFT reduced symptoms of depression (MD = −7.41, 95 % CI [−9.32, −5.51], P < .001) and anxiety (MD = −7.92, 95 % CI [−11.01, −4.83], P < .001). For anticipatory grief, EFT improved symptoms related to sadness, anger, death attitude, somatic symptoms, religious comfort, and perceived social support, but did not affect disease adjustment, self-awareness, or psychological distress. EFT also improved sleep quality (MD = −1.96, 95 % CI [−2.80, −1.13], P < .001).

Conclusion

EFT significantly alleviates anxiety, depression, and certain aspects of anticipatory grief, as well as sleep issues in people with cancer, though it shows limited efficacy in psychological distress, disease adjustment, and self-awareness. Further research should standardize outcomes to verify EFT's comprehensive benefits.