Melanoma (Skin)
Conditions
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.
Detailed description
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. Specifically, the study aims: 1. To assess the effect of instruction and practice of EFT on illness perception, fear of cancer recurrence, and wellbeing. 2. To assess whether the social support provided by EFT instruction in a group setting makes this efficient mode of implementation non-inferior or even beneficial in comparison to personal instruction. 3. To describe the emotions related to life events reported by patients in connection with the appearance and location of melanoma.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALEmotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
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.
Sponsors
Soul Medicine Institute
Tel Aviv University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Participants in the two treatment arms, and data analysts, will be blind to group assignment.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Melanoma diagnosis over six months prior to the study; confirmed by clinical, dermoscopic examination and pathology results
Exclusion criteria
* In active treatment for melanoma * schizophrenia * epilepsy * other malignant disease
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Illness perception | Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up | Change in score on Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) |
| Perception of recurrence | Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up | Change of perceived recurrence risk on a Likert scale |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Other physical symptoms | Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up | Change in patient's self-report of somatization, pain, and other symptoms on a Likert scale |
| Depression | Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up | Change in depressive symptoms on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) |
| Anxiety | Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up | Change in anxiety symptoms on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) |
| Patient's self-report of quality of life | Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up | Change in quality of life scores on the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) |
| Wellbeing | Pre intervention, post 4 week intervention, and 3 month follow-up | Change in score on The Well-being Numerical Rating Scales (WB-NRSs). |
Countries
Israel
Contacts
STUDY_DIRECTORYael Benyamini, PhD
Tel Aviv University
Outcome results
None listed