EFT for Cancer-related Anxiety and Depression

Overseen By Deburah Tribbey

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase < 1

Sponsor: Soul Medicine Institute

Disqualifiers: None

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to assist individuals with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare bile duct cancer, who also experience anxiety and depression. Participants will learn and practice Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), a stress-reduction method, through phone and online group coaching. The researchers hope to determine if EFT can alleviate psychological symptoms, pain, and insomnia. To join, participants must have cholangiocarcinoma and be able to attend phone sessions. As an Early Phase 1 trial, this research focuses on understanding how EFT works in people, providing participants an opportunity to explore this innovative approach.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems likely that you can continue them, but it's best to confirm with the trial organizers.

What prior data suggests that this technique is safe for cancer patients?

Research has shown that Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients. One study found that EFT significantly improved anxiety and sleep quality within four weeks. Another study demonstrated that EFT effectively addressed mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Overall, EFT appears well-tolerated, with no major side effects reported in these studies. This suggests it could be a safe method to support emotional well-being in people with cancer. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike traditional treatments for cancer-related anxiety and depression, which often involve medications and psychotherapy, the approach using Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) combined with lifestyle counseling is unique because it targets emotional distress through a blend of psychological and physical techniques. EFT, often referred to as "tapping," involves tapping on specific meridian points on the body while focusing on negative emotions, which may help reduce anxiety and improve emotional well-being. This method is non-invasive and drug-free, offering a potential alternative for those seeking complementary options to standard care. Researchers are excited about this approach because it could provide a new pathway to emotional healing without the side effects commonly associated with medications.

What evidence suggests that EFT might be an effective treatment for cancer-related anxiety and depression?

Research has shown that Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), included in this trial's lifestyle counseling, can help reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients. Studies have found that EFT significantly improves anxiety and sleep quality within four weeks. Another study discovered that EFT effectively reduces depression symptoms. Additionally, EFT has helped with anticipatory grief, a common experience among cancer patients. These findings suggest that EFT could be a promising method for managing psychological symptoms in patients with cholangiocarcinoma. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Dawson Church, PhD

Principal Investigator

Soul Medicine Institute

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for patients with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare bile duct cancer. Participants must be able to fill out forms and attend coaching sessions over the phone. There are no specific exclusion criteria listed, so it's open to individuals who meet the inclusion conditions.

Inclusion Criteria

Ability to complete forms and attend phone coaching sessions

I have been diagnosed with bile duct cancer.

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

Treatment

Participants receive EFT coaching through telephone and internet group sessions

8 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in psychological symptoms, pain, and insomnia

1 year

Follow-ups at 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Lifestyle Counseling with Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

Trial Overview The study tests if Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), taught through phone and internet group sessions, can reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients. It includes assessments before, during, and up to one year after EFT coaching using various psychological and quality of life scales.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: 1 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Lifestyle Counseling with Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Soul Medicine Institute

Lead Sponsor

Trials

12

Recruited

650+

Published Research Related to This Trial

An eight-lesson internet-delivered CBT program for anxiety and depression in early-stage cancer patients received high acceptability from participants, indicating it is user-friendly and engaging.

Participants supported the idea of combining resources for anxiety and depression, but suggested that a separate course should be developed for those with advanced-stage cancer, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acceptability of an internet cognitive behavioural therapy program for people with early-stage cancer and cancer survivors with depression and/or anxiety: thematic findings from focus groups. Karageorge, A., Murphy, MJ., Newby, JM., et al.[2018]

Guided imagery, used for 20 minutes daily over one week, significantly reduced anxiety and depression in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy compared to a control group.

Patients who practiced guided imagery also reported improvements in side effects related to chemotherapy, particularly in pain, insomnia, appetite, and nausea.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Guided Imagery: Reducing Anxiety, Depression, and Selected Side Effects Associated With Chemotherapy. Mahdizadeh, MJ., Tirgari, B., Abadi, OSRR., et al.[2020]

Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) show significant effectiveness in treating PTSD, with large effect sizes (1.38 to 2.51) when compared to waitlist or no treatment controls, based on a systematic review of six randomized clinical trials.

When compared to other active therapies, EFT produced similar treatment results, indicating it can be an effective alternative or complement to established evidence-based therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Stapleton, P., Kip, K., Church, D., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 81 participants at EFT workshops, significant reductions in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms were observed, indicating that Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can effectively alleviate psychological distress.

Participants maintained their improvements for six months after treatment, demonstrating the long-term efficacy of EFT, with a moderate treatment effect size for PTSD (Cohen's d = 0.54).

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Borrowing Benefits: Group Treatment With Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques Is Associated With Simultaneous Reductions in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms. Church, D., House, D.[2019]

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022399925000522

The impact of emotional freedom techniques on anxiety ... Our results showed that EFT significantly reduced depressive symptoms in cancer patients, aligning with previous studies that highlight its efficacy in treating ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12419430/

Effectiveness of emotional freedom techniques therapy in ... EFT therapy produces clinically significant improvements in AG, anxiety symptoms, and sleep quality among cancer patients within 4 weeks.

3. thelancet.com thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(21)00361-8/fulltext

A randomised wait-list controlled trial to evaluate Emotional ... This multicentre randomised wait-list controlled trial demonstrated that EFT is an effective strategy for patients suffering from sr-CRCI.

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11547174/

The Effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Techniques for ... Results: The analysis showed a significant overall effect size of 1.268 for EFT in reducing depressive symptoms. A moderator analysis revealed ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022399925000522

The impact of emotional freedom techniques on anxiety ... This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of EFT in reducing anxiety, depression, and anticipatory grief symptoms in people with cancer.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12192889/

The Effectiveness of Group and Individual Training in ... Another study reported a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients following an EFT intervention [47]. Women who ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405452623000010

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): Tap to relieve stress ... The impact of emotional freedom techniques on anxiety, depression, and anticipatory grief in people with cancer: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

8. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.23.00857

Integrative Oncology Care of Symptoms of Anxiety and ... For depression symptoms, MBIs, yoga, music therapy, relaxation, and reflexology were recommended during treatment, and MBIs, yoga, and tai chi ...

9. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.951451/full

Clinical EFT as an evidence-based practice for the ... RCTs have found EFT treatment to be effective for (a) psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression, phobias, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD);