Effectiveness of Group and Individual Training in EFT for Patients in Remission From Melanoma

NCT05421988 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: NIIH20220324
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 56
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Serious medical diagnosis frequently induce fear focused on specific anticipations or generalized anxiety, along with uncertainty, insecurity, and disorientation. Other emotions such as anger, depression, hopelessness, shame, or grief may also become involved following a serious diagnosis. The adverse impact of stress on health and immune function is well-established, as well as its link to depression and anxiety. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) has demonstrated efficacy in treating anxiety, depression, and PTSD. This study tests its effectiveness in reducing negative emotional symptoms in general, and fear of recurrence in particular, among individuals previously diagnosed with melanoma and currently in remission.

Conditions

Melanoma (Skin)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Illness perception

  Change in score on Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R)

  Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up

• Perception of recurrence

  Change of perceived recurrence risk on a Likert scale

  Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Other physical symptoms

  Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up

• Depression

  Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up

• Anxiety

  Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up

• Patient's self-report of quality of life

  Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up

• Wellbeing

  Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up

Study Arms (3)

Individual EFT Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Personal EFT instruction and practice group

Behavioral: Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

Group EFT Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Group EFT instruction and practice group

Behavioral: Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

Wait List

NO INTERVENTION

Wait list control group

Interventions

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) BEHAVIORAL

EFT is an efficacious method demonstrated in over 100 clinical trials. It combines cognitive and exposure techniques with acupressure, in the form of fingertip percussion on acupuncture meridian points.

Group EFT Therapy; Individual EFT Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Melanoma diagnosis over six months prior to the study; confirmed by clinical, dermoscopic examination and pathology results

You may not qualify if:

• In active treatment for melanoma
• schizophrenia
• epilepsy
• other malignant disease

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Soul Medicine Institute: lead
• Tel Aviv University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The School Of Social Work Tel Aviv University

Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Lazarov A, Church D, Shidlo N, Benyamini Y. The Effectiveness of Group and Individual Training in Emotional Freedom Techniques for Patients in Remission from Melanoma: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Jun 13;13(12):1420. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13121420.

  PMID: 40565447 RESULT

Related Links

• Related Info

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Melanoma

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neuroendocrine Tumors; Neuroectodermal Tumors; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue; Nevi and Melanomas; Skin Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Skin Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Study Officials

• Yael Benyamini, PhD

  Tel Aviv University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants in the two treatment arms, and data analysts, will be blind to group assignment.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SEQUENTIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 3, 2022
• First Posted: June 16, 2022
• Study Start: October 20, 2022
• Primary Completion: July 20, 2025
• Study Completion: July 20, 2025
• Last Updated: April 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Time Frame: Data will be made available upon publication and for 5 years thereafter.
• Access Criteria: Email request from qualified investigator.

Locations

IL (1)