Anxiety and Depression Levels in Cancer Patients After Self-Application of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)

Anxiety and depression have been found to be significant co-occurring conditions in cancer patients. This study examines these and other psychological conditions in patients diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the bile duct, with an average survival time of three to six months post-diagnosis. Participants are taught EFT in a telephone and internet group coaching session, prior to which they complete the SA-45, a 45 item questionnaire, and the ISI or Insomnia Severity Index. The SA-45 has nine subscales for such conditions as anxiety, depression, hostility and psychoticism, as well as two primary scales to determine the breadth and severity of psychological distress. Self-assessed pain severity will also be measured on a Likert-type scale. The study is expected to enroll 10 to 15 cholangiocarcinoma patients, and use a within-subjects, time series, repeated measures design. Symptoms are assessed prior to coaching, after four, and again after eight weekly coaching sessions. It is hypothesized that a drop in the severity of co-occurring psychological symptoms, pain and insomnia may occur after EFT coaching.