title: Evaluation of a meridian-based intervention, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), for reducing specific phobias of small animals.
abstract: This study explored whether a meridian-based procedure, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), can reduce specific phobias of small animals under laboratory-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.
authors.affiliation: Curtin University of Technology of Western Australia.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Polglase
authors.forename: Henry B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrington
authors.forename: A Harvey
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome