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Research: KWAK and COLLLEAGUES,
Listed in Issue 282
Abstract
KWAK and COLLLEAGUES, 1 Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 1, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 2 Haneum Neuropsychiatry Clinic of Korean Medicine, 1426, Jungang-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; 3 Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Korean Neuropsychiatry, Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital, 892 Dongnam-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul 05278, Republic of Korea; 4 Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Korean Neuropsychiatry, Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital, 892 Dongnam-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul 05278, Republic of Korea. lovepwr@khu.ac.kr conducted a study to compare the effects of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) in patients with Hwabyung – a psychosomatic disease resulting from the suppression of anger over an extended period.
Background
Hwabyung is a psychosomatic disease resulting from the suppression of anger over an extended period. The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) are meridian-based psychotherapy known to cure many psychosomatic diseases, and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a therapeutic method that relieves physical and psychological tension by repeated tensing and relaxation of the muscles.
Methodology
Object: In this study, the authors compared the effects of EFT and PMR in patients with Hwabyung. Design: 40 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 measures: The 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.
Results
EFT (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.
Conclusion
Hui-Yong Kwak 1 , Eun-Ji Choi 2 , Jong-Woo Kim 3 , Hyo-Weon Suh 1 , Sun-Yong Chung 4. 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. Explore (NY); 16(3):170-177. May-Jun 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2019.08.006. Epub Aug 24 2019 .
References
