Does emotional freedom techniques affect premenstrual syndrome? A randomized controlled study

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the effect of emotional freedom techniques (EFT) on the severity of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial, with a premenstrual syndrome sample comprising 78 single female students of reproductive age presenting with PMS complaints (40 in the experimental group and 38 in the control group). Students in the experimental group were interviewed individually in the week before their menstrual cycle and received two EFT sessions with a 3-day interval. Results: The participants in the experimental group had higher post-test subjective units of experience (SUE) mean scores (experimental group mean 7.8 +/- 1.7; control group mean 0.5 +/- 5.7) and lower post-test PMS total (experimental group mean 76.8 +/- 30.1; control group mean 127.4 +/- 34.6) and subscale mean scores than the students in the control group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In repeated measures analysis, time-dependent change showed statistical significance between the groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The EFT was found to be an effective non-pharmacologic intervention for coping with PMS.