title: A Randomized Controlled Comparison of Emotional Freedom Technique and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Adolescent Anxiety: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this pilot study was to compare the efficacy of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) with that of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in reducing adolescent anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study took place in 10 schools (8 public/2 private; 4 high schools/6 middle schools) in 2 northeastern states in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three high-ability students in grades 6-12, ages 10-18 years, who scored in the moderate to high ranges for anxiety on the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale-2 (RCMAS-2) were randomly assigned to CBT (n = 21), EFT (n = 21), or waitlist control (n = 21) intervention groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  CBT is the gold standard of anxiety treatment for adolescent anxiety. EFT is an evidence-based treatment for anxiety that incorporates acupoint stimulation. Students assigned to the CBT or EFT treatment groups received three individual sessions of the identified protocols from trained graduate counseling, psychology, or social work students enrolled at a large northeastern research university.
  
  
  METHODS
  The RCMAS-2 was used to assess preintervention and postintervention anxiety levels in participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EFT participants (n = 20; M = 52.16, SD = 9.23) showed significant reduction in anxiety levels compared with the waitlist control group (n = 21; M = 57.93, SD = 6.02) (p = 0.005, d = 0.74, 95% CI [-9.76, -1.77]) with a moderate to large effect size. CBT participants (n = 21; M = 54.82, SD = 5.81) showed reduction in anxiety but did not differ significantly from the EFT (p = 0.18, d = 0.34; 95% CI [-6.61, 1.30]) or control (p = 0.12, d = 0.53, 95% CI [-7.06, .84]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EFT is an efficacious intervention to significantly reduce anxiety for high-ability adolescents.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Educational Studies, Counseling and Development Program, Purdue University , West Lafayette, IN.
authors.forename: Amy H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gaesser
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling Program, University of Connecticut , Storrs, CT.
authors.forename: Orv C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Karan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
keywords: Emotional Freedom Techniques; adolescent anxiety; gifted; randomized controlled trial; schools