The Effect of Psychotherapy on Stress Biochemistry: An RCT of Psychotherapy and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Anxiety, Anxiety, Depression |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 75 |
| Updated: | 4/27/2018 |
| Start Date: | April 2008 |
| End Date: | September 2010 |
The Effect of Psychotherapy on Stress Biochemistry: A Randomized Blind Controlled Trial of Psychotherapy and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a change in levels of cortisol, a
key stress hormone, during the course of a psychotherapy session. The two forms of
psychotherapy compared are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Emotional Freedom
Techniques (EFT). A no treatment control group provides a baseline measure. The change in
cortisol level is compared between the start and end of a one hour session.
key stress hormone, during the course of a psychotherapy session. The two forms of
psychotherapy compared are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Emotional Freedom
Techniques (EFT). A no treatment control group provides a baseline measure. The change in
cortisol level is compared between the start and end of a one hour session.
Cortisol is a crucial physiological marker for stress. Stress produces elevated cortisol
levels for as long as the body can supply the precursors. Elevated cortisol levels are
associated with physical conditions such as impaired immune system function, cardiovascular
disease, stroke, and accelerated aging. Elevated cortisol levels are also implicated in many
psychological conditions. If the adrenal glands, which produce cortisol, are stimulated by
the physical or psychological environment to produce stress hormones, they shunt production
away from making DHEA, which is vital for cell regeneration.
The current pilot study examines the change in cortisol levels that result from a one hour
psychotherapy session. It measures salivary cortisol, which indicates the levels of cortisol
readily available to the body. This measure is relatively stable, and is not susceptible to
large swings in the relatively brief period of a one hour psychotherapy session. Excluded are
subjects with major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress syndrome, and chronic diseases
which have been shown to affect cortisol levels. Cortisol assessments will also take place in
the afternoon or evening, to control for low waking cortisol which may be present in some
normal subjects.
It is hypothesized that if psychotherapy is successful at treating trauma, cortisol levels
will decline between the beginning of the hour and the end of the hour. The structure of the
session is that the client discusses their emotional trauma in the first half of the session,
and is treated with either cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or emotional freedom techniques
(EFT) in the second half of the session. A no treatment control group provides baseline data.
Half an hour is sufficient time for cortisol reuptake, and if therapy is successful at
reducing physiological markers of stress, the client might demonstrate lower levels of
cortisol at the conclusion of the psychotherapy session. Subjects who spontaneously have
recall of a new significant trauma during the treatment portion of the session will also be
excluded, since such recall can result in a cortisol spike. The study also evaluates a range
of psychological conditions before and after the session using the SA-45. This brief
questionnaire has subscales for anxiety, depression, phobias, hostility and other
characteristics; these can be compared to cortisol levels to determine any correlations
between psychological and physiological change.
levels for as long as the body can supply the precursors. Elevated cortisol levels are
associated with physical conditions such as impaired immune system function, cardiovascular
disease, stroke, and accelerated aging. Elevated cortisol levels are also implicated in many
psychological conditions. If the adrenal glands, which produce cortisol, are stimulated by
the physical or psychological environment to produce stress hormones, they shunt production
away from making DHEA, which is vital for cell regeneration.
The current pilot study examines the change in cortisol levels that result from a one hour
psychotherapy session. It measures salivary cortisol, which indicates the levels of cortisol
readily available to the body. This measure is relatively stable, and is not susceptible to
large swings in the relatively brief period of a one hour psychotherapy session. Excluded are
subjects with major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress syndrome, and chronic diseases
which have been shown to affect cortisol levels. Cortisol assessments will also take place in
the afternoon or evening, to control for low waking cortisol which may be present in some
normal subjects.
It is hypothesized that if psychotherapy is successful at treating trauma, cortisol levels
will decline between the beginning of the hour and the end of the hour. The structure of the
session is that the client discusses their emotional trauma in the first half of the session,
and is treated with either cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or emotional freedom techniques
(EFT) in the second half of the session. A no treatment control group provides baseline data.
Half an hour is sufficient time for cortisol reuptake, and if therapy is successful at
reducing physiological markers of stress, the client might demonstrate lower levels of
cortisol at the conclusion of the psychotherapy session. Subjects who spontaneously have
recall of a new significant trauma during the treatment portion of the session will also be
excluded, since such recall can result in a cortisol spike. The study also evaluates a range
of psychological conditions before and after the session using the SA-45. This brief
questionnaire has subscales for anxiety, depression, phobias, hostility and other
characteristics; these can be compared to cortisol levels to determine any correlations
between psychological and physiological change.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Good Health History
Exclusion Criteria:
- MDD (Major Depressive Disorder)
- PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- Psychotropic Prescription Drug Use
- Currently Under Psychiatric Care
- Major disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease
- Autoimmune disease
- CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
- Cushing's Syndrome
- Addison's Disease
- Spontaneous Trauma Recall in Final 20 minutes of Session
- History of Psychological Illness
- Pretest Cortisol level of .5 ng/ml or under, or 7 ng/ml or over
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