Introduction: Depression is a common psychological disorder prevalent in all age groups irrespective of gender, religion, ethnicity and geographical area. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a brief treatment and consists of cognitive therapy, acupoint stimulation on selected meridians of the body. The EFT is a self- help therapeutic tool to reduce the distress level. However, existing literature may not be sufficient to demonstrate effectiveness of adding adjuvant therapy, EFT will enhance the outcome among depressive patients along with conventional treatment. Aim: To determine effectiveness of add-on EFT on treating depression among patients with depression and to find out the effect of predictive variables on depression level. Materials and Methods: It was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test design, involving a control group, conducted among patients admitted in open ward for observation and treatment in Hospital for Mental Health, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, with in this study, 100 samples were selected by convenience sampling technique and data collection was done from March 2019 to July 2019. The Beck Depression Inventory was administered on first day to all the patients. In one group EFT was administered for 40 minutes for three consecutive days along with routine treatment. The other group {Treatment as usual (TAU) group} received only conventional treatment. Depression level was evaluated on third day after intervention by an independent assessor among both the groups. Data were analysed using frequency distribution, Wilcoxon test and Mann-Whitney test. Results: A total of 100 subjects were included in study. Mean age (years) of EFT group was 44±12 and 42±13 among TAU group. In EFT group 24 (48%) were males and 26 (52%) were females; while it was 26 (52%) males and 24 (48%) females in TAU group. Mean depression score was 30.82±2 before intervention and after intervention it was found 27.20±4 among TAU group. Mean depression score was 30.96±3 before intervention and after intervention it came down to 24±4 in EFT group. On univariate logistic regression analysis, significant association was found with age less than 29 years {Odds Ratios (OR) 2.68; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) =0.398- 18.1}, primary education (OR 6.759; 95% CI=1.106- 41.296), secondary education (OR 2.95: 95% CI=0.56-15.66). Conclusion: Study concludes that adding EFT as an adjuvant therapy along with conventional treatment antidepressant and psychotherapy will enhance the outcome of depression level among patients with depression.
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