Serious medical diagnosis frequently induce fear focused on specific anticipations or generalized anxiety, along with uncertainty, insecurity, and disorientation. Other emotions such as anger, depression, hopelessness, shame, or grief may also become involved following a serious diagnosis. The adverse impact of stress on health and immune function is well-established, as well as its link to depression and anxiety. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) has demonstrated efficacy in treating anxiety, depression, and PTSD. This study tests its effectiveness in reducing negative emotional symptoms in general, and fear of recurrence in particular, among individuals previously diagnosed with melanoma and currently in remission.
Serious medical diagnosis frequently induce fear focused on specific anticipations or generalized anxiety, along with uncertainty, insecurity, and disorientation. Other emotions such as anger, depression, hopelessness, shame, or grief may also become involved following a serious diagnosis. The adverse impact of stress on health and immune function is well-established, as well as its link to depression and anxiety. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) has demonstrated efficacy in treating anxiety, depression, and PTSD. This study tests its effectiveness in reducing negative emotional symptoms in general, and fear of recurrence in particular, among individuals previously diagnosed with melanoma and currently in remission. Specifically, the study aims: 1. To assess the effect of instruction and practice of EFT on illness perception, fear of cancer recurrence, and wellbeing. 2. To assess whether the social support provided by EFT instruction in a group setting makes this efficient mode of implementation non-inferior or even beneficial in comparison to personal instruction. 3. To describe the emotions related to life events reported by patients in connection with the appearance and location of melanoma.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
56
EFT is an efficacious method demonstrated in over 100 clinical trials. It combines cognitive and exposure techniques with acupressure, in the form of fingertip percussion on acupuncture meridian points.
The School Of Social Work Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv, Israel
Illness perception
Change in score on Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R)
Time frame: Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up
Perception of recurrence
Change of perceived recurrence risk on a Likert scale
Time frame: Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up
Other physical symptoms
Change in patient's self-report of somatization, pain, and other symptoms on a Likert scale
Time frame: Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up
Depression
Change in depressive symptoms on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)
Time frame: Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up
Anxiety
Change in anxiety symptoms on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)
Time frame: Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up
Patient's self-report of quality of life
Change in quality of life scores on the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS)
Time frame: Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up
Wellbeing
Change in score on The Well-being Numerical Rating Scales (WB-NRSs).
Time frame: Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up
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