The Efficacy of TFT as a Treatment Modality for Individuals Diagnosed with Blood-Injection-Injury Phobia

Darby, D. W. (2002). The efficacy of Thought Field Therapy as a treatment modality for individuals diagnosed with blood-injection-injury phobia. Dissertation Abstracts International, 64(03), 1485B. (UMI No. 3085152).

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Abstract:

Introduction

A pretest, posttest, quantitative study was conducted involving the measured efficacy of Thought Field Therapy as a useful component for the treatment of individuals diagnosed with blood-injection-injury phobia, also known as needle phobia. The study investigated whether this intervention could serve as a means of reducing or eliminating phobic symptomology.

Method

Twenty-one people diagnosed with needle phobia were recruited for the study. Participants were individually assessed and administered the Fear Survey Schedule (FSS) to establish a baseline with respect to levels of phobic anxiety prior to treatment. Participants then received a single one-hour treatment intervention of Thought Field Therapy. Following treatment, participants were not seen for one month, after which they were re-administered the FSS as a posttest measure.

Results

Results revealed a significant difference pre- and post-treatment as measured by the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS). Although results showed no significant difference with regard to gender response, findings suggested that Thought Field Therapy may be an effective method of treatment intervention for the population studied, and possibly beneficial for other phobic populations.

Conclusions

Future research should involve a larger population sample, examine additional manifestations of phobic anxiety, and investigate the role of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a component of specific phobias.