Meridian-tapping (MT) is a body-oriented therapeutic technique which among other psychological
problems targets anxiety disorders. Despite bold claims by some of its advocates that it brings lasting
success in the vast majority of patients with anxiety disorders, solid empirical evidence for its effectiveness
is scarce and its theoretical foundations are refuted by many scientists. The present study tested the
effectiveness of a published MT self-help approach for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Following
a baseline assessment over the internet including standard outcome measures for OCD (Y-BOCS, OCI-R) and
depression (BDI-SF), 70 participants with OCD were randomly allocated to MT or to progressive muscle
relaxation (PMR). Four weeks after the dispatch of the self-help manuals (including video demonstrations
of the technique), participants were requested to take part in a post assessment.Whereas subjects found MT
more helpful than PMR in retrospect (39% versus 19%) and would continue to use it in the future (72% versus
48%) there was no evidence for a stronger decline of OCD symptoms under MT on any of the psychometric
measures. Moreover, Y-BOCS scores did not significantly change across time for both interventions. The
present study does not support bold claims about the effectiveness of MT as a stand-alone technique.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy remains the treatment of choice for OCD. While self-help MT may enhance
the well-being of a subgroup of participants, its potential for OCD appears to be small. Exaggerated success
claims on the effectiveness of MT in conjunction with degrading appraisals of conventional psychotherapy
as made by some of its leading figures may in our view foster fatalism in patients not experiencing major
symptom relief by MT.
Meridian-tapping (MT) is a body-oriented therapeutic technique which among other psychologicalproblems targets anxiety disorders. Despite bold claims by some of its advocates that it brings lastingsuccess in the vast majority of patients with anxiety disorders, solid empirical evidence for its effectivenessis scarce and its theoretical foundations are refuted by many scientists. The present study tested theeffectiveness of a published MT self-help approach for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Followinga baseline assessment over the internet including standard outcome measures for OCD (Y-BOCS, OCI-R) anddepression (BDI-SF), 70 participants with OCD were randomly allocated to MT or to progressive musclerelaxation (PMR). Four weeks after the dispatch of the self-help manuals (including video demonstrationsof the technique), participants were requested to take part in a post assessment.Whereas subjects found MTmore helpful than PMR in retrospect (39% versus 19%) and would continue to use it in the future (72% versus48%) there was no evidence for a stronger decline of OCD symptoms under MT on any of the psychometricmeasures. Moreover, Y-BOCS scores did not significantly change across time for both interventions. Thepresent study does not support bold claims about the effectiveness of MT as a stand-alone technique.Cognitive-behavioral therapy remains the treatment of choice for OCD. While self-help MT may enhancethe well-being of a subgroup of participants, its potential for OCD appears to be small. Exaggerated success
claims on the effectiveness of MT in conjunction with degrading appraisals of conventional psychotherapy
as made by some of its leading figures may in our view foster fatalism in patients not experiencing major
symptom relief by MT.
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