Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry (동의신경정신과학회지)

The Korean Society of Oriental Neuropsychiatry (대한한방신경정신과학회)
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Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for Students' Mental Health: A Systematic Review

학생들의 정신건강을 위한 감정자유기법(EFT): 체계적 문헌고찰

  • Lee, Seung Hwan (Department of Neuropsychiatry, Pusan National University Korean Medical Hospital) ;
  • Jeong, Bo Eun (Hanulmaum Korean Medical Clinic) ;
  • Chae, Han (Division of Longevity and Biofunctional Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Lim, Jung Hwa (Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University)
  • 이승환 (부산대학교 한방병원 한방신경정신과) ;
  • 정보은 (하늘마음한의원) ;
  • 채한 (부산대학교 한의학과 양생기능의학부) ;
  • 임정화 (부산대학교 한의학전문대학원 한방신경정신과교실)
  • Received : 2017.08.23
  • Accepted : 2017.09.18
  • Published : 2017.09.30
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Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to understand clinical usefulness of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on students' mental health. Methods: Ten databases were included to extract clinical studies on effects of EFT intervention with students. Characteristics of selected studies were described, and biases were assessed with Risk of Bias (RoB) or Risk of Bias Assessment for Non-Randomized Studies (RoBANS). Results: A total of 14 clinical trials were extracted for analysis. There were 8 randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), 2 non-randomized-controlled trials (nRCTs), and 4 before-after studies. EFT have significant clinical usefulness in public speaking anxiety, test anxiety, stress, depression, learning related emotions, adolescent anxiety, and eating issues. The risk of selection bias in most studies was high or uncertain. Conclusions: EFT is an effective clinical technique for managing students' mental health issues. However, the included studies have been conducted with relatively poor quality and small sample size. Clinical trials with high quality study design and well-designed EFT education programs are needed to generalize clinical usefulness.

Keywords

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