Research Article
Evaluation of a meridian-based intervention, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), for reducing specific phobias of small animals
Steve Wells,
Kathryn Polglase,
Henry B. Andrews,
Patricia Carrington,
A. Harvey Baker,
Steve Wells
Curtin University of Technology of Western Australia
Search for more papers by this authorKathryn Polglase
Curtin University of Technology of Western Australia
Search for more papers by this authorHenry B. Andrews
Curtin University of Technology of Western Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Patricia Carrington
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
61 Kingsley Road, Kendall Park, NJ 08824; e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorA. Harvey Baker
Queens College of the City University of New York
Search for more papers by this authorSteve Wells,
Kathryn Polglase,
Henry B. Andrews,
Patricia Carrington,
A. Harvey Baker,
Steve Wells
Curtin University of Technology of Western Australia
Search for more papers by this authorKathryn Polglase
Curtin University of Technology of Western Australia
Search for more papers by this authorHenry B. Andrews
Curtin University of Technology of Western Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Patricia Carrington
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
61 Kingsley Road, Kendall Park, NJ 08824; e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorA. Harvey Baker
Queens College of the City University of New York
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
This study explored whether a meridian-based procedure, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), can reduce specific phobias of small animals underlaboratory-controlled conditions. Randomly assigned participants were treated individually for 30 min with EFT (n = 18) or a comparison condition, diaphragmatic breathing (DB) (n = 17). ANOVAS revealed that EFT produced significantly greater improvement than did DB behaviorally and on three self-report measures, but not on pulse rate. The greater improvement for EFT was maintained, and possibly enhanced, at six- to nine-months follow-up on the behavioral measure. These findings suggest that a single treatment session using EFT to reduce specific phobias can produce valid behavioral and subjective effects. Some limitations of the study also are noted and clarifying research suggested. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol.
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