Effect of the Emotional Freedom Techniques on anger symptoms in Hwabyung patients: A comparison with the Progressive Muscle Relaxation technique in a pilot randomized controlled trial

In this study, we compared the effects of EFT and PMR in patients with Hwabyung.Design40 patients were enrolled and randomized to receive 4 weeks of group sessions with either EFT (n = 20) or PMR (n = 20). Evaluations were conducted pre- and post-treatment and at 4-week and 24-week follow-ups after session end.Main Outcome MeasuresThe Hwabyung Scale, Visual Analogue Scale of Hwabyung Symptoms (VAS-HS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) were administered as self-report tools. The analysis excluded 8 patients who never attended treatment and 1 patient meeting the exclusion criteria.ResultEFT (n = 15) and PMR (n = 16) improved Hwabyung symptoms (−13.95% and −11.46%, respectively), state anxiety (−12.57% and −12.64%, respectively), and depression (−32.11% and −18.68%, respectively) (p < 0.05 for all). Trait anger improved in EFT group (−13.4%, p = 0.004). There were no significant differences between the groups (p> 0.05) except for trait anger at post-treatment (p = 0.022 for between group). No adverse events were reported during the study.
Source: EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research