There is growing evidence to support the effectiveness of Thought Field Therapy (TFT) as a psychological intervention.
An article entitled Mental health interventions by lay counsellors: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Connolly et al., 2021) was published in the August 2021 issue of The Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Of the 19 randomized controlled trials that met the inclusion criteria, three studies explored the use of TFT (Connolly & Sakai, 2011; Connolly et al., 2013; Robson et al., 2016). Of the three included TFT studies, two were conducted in Rwanda, and one was conducted in Uganda. Two of the included TFT studies demonstrated high effect sizes, and one TFT study demonstrated a medium effect size. The three TFT studies were found to have the fewest days of training and the least amount of treatment time. In a qualitative follow up, Edwards (2016) reported the lay counselors’ satisfaction with their continued use of the TFT intervention.
In an outcome study conducted in Rwanda with street children (Sakai et al., 2010), TFT was found to show promise in the treatment of children recovering from the 1994 Genocide. In another 2019 outcome study by Dheepa et al., the authors reported that in their experience, TFT mediated stress in schoolchildren. In a third TFT study with children Barraza-Alvarez (2021) conducted a quasi-experimental study in the nursing unit of the “Del Bosque” Childhood Integration and Connivance Center, S.C., Community Neighborhood Nursery No. U-1327 of the Mexican Social Security Institute located in Texcoco, Mexico. Barraza-Alverez found that TFT significantly reduced reported levels of anxiety and fear in the 14 females who participated in the study.
Two European RCT studies were conducted in a hospital setting in Norway (Irgens et al., 2012; Irgens et al., 2017). In the first study, TFT delivered superior results when compared to CBT for the treatment of anxiety. In the second study, TFT was found to be a promising treatment for agoraphobia when the treatment group was compared to a waitlist group.
A recent study conducted in the war-torn Kurdistan Region of Iraq (Seidi et al., 2020) found TFT treatments to be preferred by the local population and more effective when compared to CBT. In another middle eastern study, a study of dental anxiety (AlAwdah et al., 2021) was conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the King Saud University College of Dentistry Primary Clinics. The authors found that TFT significantly reduced dental pain when compared to other anxiety reduction techniques.
In Japan, a recent study by Morikawa et al. (2021) found that TFT sessions averaging 36 minutes significantly reduced stress and improved heart rate variability in university students.
In addition to the Connolly et al. (2021) study published by the Bulletin of the World Health Organization mentioned at the beginning of this paper, TFT studies have been included in several globally important literature reviews and meta-analyses.
Brown et al. (2017) included the Sakai et al. (2010) study with street children in their review, Psychosocial interventions for children and adolescents after man-made and natural disasters: A meta-analysis and systematic review. These authors found that the TFT intervention had the highest effect size when compared to other interventions such as EMDR and CBT. In Effects of current treatments for trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder on reducing a negative self-concept: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Banz et al. (2022) found 25 studies that met their inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis included the Connolly and Sakai (2011) TFT study, which demonstrated a strong effect size in reducing negative self-concept.
Morina et al. (2017) included Connolly and Sakai (2011) in their Meta-analysis of interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in adult survivors of mass violence in low- and middle-income countries, as did Bangpan et al. (2019). Bangpan included Connolly and Sakai (2011) in Mental, health and psychosocial support programmes for adults in humanitarian emergencies: A systematic review and meta-analysis in low and middle-income countries. Bangpan et al. (2017) also included Connolly and Sakai (2011) in The impact of mental health and psychosocial support interventions on people affected by humanitarian emergencies: A systematic review.
In 2014, Dunnewold reviewed four studies of TFT in Africa (Connolly & Sakai, 2011; Connolly et al., 2013; Robson et al., 2016; Sakai et al., 2010) in Thought Field Therapy efficacy following large scale traumatic events. She concluded that together, these studies demonstrated the efficacy of TFT and recommended further research. In 2022, Ntlantsana et al. included Connolly and Sakai (2011) in Post-traumatic stress disorder psychological interventions in sub-Saharan Africa: Protocol for a systematic review of the literature and noted its effectiveness.
Two Cochrane Reviews included TFT studies in their extensive meta-analyses. Purgato et al. (2018) included Connolly and Sakai (2011) and Connolly et al. (2013) in Psychological therapies for the treatment of mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries affected by humanitarian crises. Van Ginneken et al. (2021) included Connolly and Sakai (2011) in Primary level worker interventions for the care of people living with mental disorders and distress in low and middle income countries.
References
AlAwdah, A. S., AlHabdan, A. H., AlTaifi, B., & AlMejrad, L. (2021) The effect of Thought Field Therapy on dental fear among Saudi women during restorative treatment. EC Dental Science, 20(5).
Bangpan, M., Dickson, K., Felix, L., & Chiumento, A. (2017). The impact of mental health and psychosocial support interventions on people affected by humanitarian emergencies: A systematic review. Humanitarian Evidence Programme. Oxfam GB.
Bangpan, M., Felix, L., & Dickson, K. (2019) Mental health and psychosocial support programmes for adults in humanitarian emergencies: A systematic review and meta-analysis in low and middle-income countries. British Medical Journal Global Health. 4:e001484. 22618
Banz, L., Stefanovic, M., von Boeselagera, M., Schäfer, I., Lotzin, A., Kleim, B., & Ehring, T. (2022). Effects of current treatments for trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder on reducing a negative self-concept: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 13, 2122528. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2022.2122528
Barraza-Alvarez, F.V. (2021). Callahan’s Thought Field Therapy and the management of emotions associated with stress. World Journal of Biology, Pharmacy, and Health Sciences, 7(2), 60-68. Doi: 10.30574/wjbphs.2021.7.2.0045.
Brown, R. C., Witt, A., Fegert, J. M., Keller, F., Rassenhofer, M., & Plener, P. L. (2017). Psychosocial interventions for children and adolescents after man-made and natural disasters: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Psychological Medicine, 47, 1893–1905. doi:10.1017/S0033291717000496
Connolly, S. M., Vanchu-Orosco, M., Warner, J., Seidi, P. A., Edwards, J., Boath, E., & Irgens, A. C. (2021). Mental health interventions by lay counsellors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 99(8), 572–582.
https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.20.269050
Connolly, S. M., Roe-Sepowitz, D., Sakai, C. E., & Edwards, J. (2013). Utilizing community resources to treat PTSD: A randomized controlled study using Thought Field Therapy.
African Journal of Traumatic Stress, 3(1), 24-32. http://doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.14793.44644.
Connolly, S. M., & Sakai, C. E. (2011). Brief trauma symptom intervention with Rwandan genocide survivors using Thought Field Therapy. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 13(3), 161-172. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22708146
Dheepa, V., Prabavathy, S, & Renuka K. (2019). Thought Field Therapy on stress and anger in schoolchildren. International Journal of Advanced Research.
doi: http://dx.doi.org/:10.21474/IJAR01/8859
Dunnewold, A. L. (2014) Thought Field Therapy efficacy following large scale traumatic events. Current Research in Psychology, 5(1), 34-39. doi:10.38/crpsp.
Edwards, J. (2016) Healing in Rwanda: In the words of the therapists. Wholistic Healing Publications, 16(1). https://irpcdn.multiscreensite.com/891f98f6/files/uploaded/IJHC-16-1%20Edwards.pdf
Irgens, A. C., Hoffart, A., Nysaeter, T. E., Haaland, V. O., Borge, F. M., Pripp, A. H., Martinsen, E. W., & Dammen, T. (2017). Thought Field Therapy compared to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and wait-list for agoraphobia: A randomized, controlled study with a 12-month follow-up. Frontiers of Psychology, 20. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01027
Irgens, A., Dammen, T., Nysaeter T., & Hoffart, A. (2012). Thought Field Therapy (TFT) as a treatment for anxiety symptoms: A randomized controlled trial. Explore, 8(6), 331-337.
Morikawa, A., Takayama, M., & Yoshizawa, E. (2021, In press). The efficacy of Thought Field Therapy and its impact on heart rate variability in student counseling: A randomized controlled trial. EXPLORE, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2021.09.005
Morina, N., Nickerson, A., Malek, M., & Bryant, R. (2017). Meta-analysis of interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in adult survivors of mass violence in low- and middle-income countries Depression and Anxiety, 34(8), 679-691. doi: 0.1002/da.22618
Ntlantsana, V., Molebatsi, K., & Mashaphu, S, et al. (2022). Post-traumatic stress disorder psychological interventions in sub-Saharan Africa: Protocol for a systematic review of the literature. BMJ Open, 2022(12), e052903. doi:10.1136/mjopen-2021-052903
Purgato, M., Gastaldon, C., Papola, D., van Ommeren, M., Barbui, C., & Tol, W. A. (2018). Psychological therapies for the treatment of mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries affected by humanitarian crises. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 7. Art. No.: CD011849. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011849.pub2
Robson, R. H., Robson, P. M., Ludwig, R., Mitabu C., & Phillips, C. (2016). Effectiveness of Thought Field Therapy provided by newly instructed community workers to a traumatized population in Uganda: A randomized trial. Current Research in Psychology. Doi: 10.3844/crpsp.201
Sakai, C., Connolly, S., & Oas, P. (2010). Treatment of PTSD in Rwanda genocide survivors using Thought Field Therapy. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 12(1), 41-49. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20828089/
Seidi, P. A., Jaff, D., Connolly, S. M., & Hoffart, A. (2020). Applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Thought Field Therapy in Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A retrospective case series study of mental-health interventions in a setting of political instability and armed conflicts. EXPLORE. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.06.003
van Ginneken, N., Chin, W. Y., Lim Y. C., Ussif, A., Singh R., Shahmalaker, U., & Lewin, S. (2021). Primary‐level worker interventions for the care of people living with mental disorders and distress in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 8. Art. No.: CD009149. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009149.pub3.
TFT citings of note for future reference.in future studies
In 2019, Sullivan et al. cited Sakai, Connolly, and Oas (2010) in Using simple acupressure and breathing techniques to improve mood, sleep, and pain management in refugees: A peer-to-peer approach in a Rohingya refugee camp. Sullivan noted, “Acupressure point stimulation has been used effectively in adolescent survivors of genocide in Rwanda (Sakai et al., 2010) but has not been systematically studied” (p. **).
Bagchi et al. (2019) published a protocol for a potential review of the training of lay counselors. The authors quoted Connolly et al. (2021) as one of several examples of there not being enough published about the methods of training lay counselors.
References
Bagchi, A. D., Hargwood, P., Saravana, A. DiBello, A. M., Alonzo, K. D., & Jadotte, Y. (2022). Methods of training lay individuals in the use of evidence-based services for the management of mental and behavioral health disorders: A scoping review protocol. JBI Evid Synth, 2020, 18, 1–11.
Sullivan, J., Thorn, N., Amin, M., Mason, K., Lue, N., & Nawzir, M. (2019). Using simple acupressure and breathing techniques to improve mood, sleep, and pain management in refugees: A peer-to-peer approach in a Rohingya refugee camp. Intervention, 17(2), 252-258. https://doi.10.4103/INTV.INTV_13_19
For Further Reading
Callahan, R. J. (with R. Trubo). (2001). Tapping the healer within: Using Thought Field Therapy to instantly conquer your fears, anxieties, and emotional distress. McGraw-Hill.
Connolly, S. M. (2004). Thought Field Therapy: Clinical applications: Integrating TFT in psychotherapy. George Tyrell Press.