Anxiety and anger symptoms in Hwabyung patients improved more following 4 weeks of the emotional freedom technique program compared to the progressive muscle relaxation program: A randomized controlled trial

Background: The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a meridian-based psychological therapy. The present clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of EFT as a new treatment option for Hwabyung (HB) patients experiencing anger and compares the efficacy to the Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR), the conventional meditation technique. 

Methods: The EFT and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) methods were performed on 27 HB patients, and their capacities to alleviate anxiety, anger, and emotional status were compared. After a 4-week program, a survey was conducted; patients then completed a self-training program for 4 weeks, followed by a second survey. 

Results: During the initial 4 weeks, the EFT group experienced a significant decrease in the HB symptom scale, anger state, and paranoia ideation (p < 0.05). Over the entire 9-week interval, there were significant decreases in the HB symptom scale, anxiety state, anger state, anger trait, somatization, anxiety, hostility, and so on in EFT group (p < 0.05). 

Conclusion: The EFT group showed improved psychological symptoms and physical symptoms greater than those observed in the PMR group. EFT more effectively alleviated HB symptoms compared to PMR. EFT group showed better maintenance during self-training, suggesting a good model of self-control treatment in HB patients.

Methods: This study design using pre-experimental approach to nonequivalent control group design, purposive sampling with a sample of 32 respondents consisting of 16 respondents in the intervention group and 16 respondents in the control group. The research instrument used was Questionnaire Emotional Stability. Test analysis using Independent t-test. 

Results: The results showed that there are differences in average emotional stability between the intervention group and the control group with p = 0.000 (p < 0.05). 

Conclusions: EFT therapy is highly recommended as one of the nursing interventions to increase emotional stability in adolescents.