Experimental Study And Case Analysis Of Empty - Shifting Technology

1. PurposeThis study is part of the National Key Technology Program and the purpose of it is to evaluate the treatment effect and its sustainability of moving-to-emptiness technique (MET) on stress anxiety and depression through case study as well as quantitative data analysis to demonstrate the mechanism of MET and the conclusions are supportive to previous studies.2. MethodsOne hundred and one students of undergraduate and graduate schools were randomly selected and divided into experimental (MET) and control group. Both groups were evaluated by four different psychology scales (SAS, SDS, GSES and SCL-90) at the time of grouping and one/three/six months after treatment to demonstrate the effectiveness of MET on stress anxiety and depression.There are ten steps in MET treatment protocol which are ① Basic relaxation qigong using the Integration of Three Adjustments, ② Addressing problems (the impaction of problems on a subject), ③Conceiving an image of the problem, ④ Conceiving a container for the problem,⑤ Visualizing the image and container, ⑥ Repeating of steps one, ⑦ Loading the image into the container, ⑧ Relocating the container to distant places, ⑨ Disclosing container and evaluating treatment results, and ⑩ Repeating of step one to nine.Both step 2 and 9 require students in the experimental group to score on MET questionnaires with a scale of 0 to 10 to manifest the impaction of problems and to use them as the baseline for evaluating treatment effects. The higher the score, the greater the impaction is on a subject. In addition to MET questionnaires, statistical analysis is used in the experimental group to show the variations between "homework assigned" (20/51) and "non-homework" (31/50) through the data obtained from interview, observation, videos and audios to explore the mechanism of MET.3. Results(1) The results of the experimental group showed statistical significance in releasing stress anxiety and depression, enhancing self-efficacy and establishing confidence after MET intervention. In addition to the negative correlation found in GSES, SAS and SDS in both experimental and control groups, the SCL-90 scores, overall symptom index, number of positive findings and the corresponding pain level have decreased remarkably with varied onset time and improvement. MET demonstrated effective treatment results in the experimental group at the end of study whereas the similar results were not shown until 3 months after treatment. In experimental group, the scores of all factors in SCL-90 dropped significantly which indicating the effectiveness of MET on somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, terror, paranoia, psychosis, sleeping and dietary symptoms. In control group, the scores of seven factors in SCL-90 have decreased which suggesting the above symptoms were improved only to a certain degree.(2) In comparison to control group, the SAS, SDS, GSES and SCL-90 scores, number of positive findings, the corresponding pain level and the mean of score derived from ten factors were decreased or increased (GSES only) significantly in experimental group at the end, three and six months after treatment. It showed that MET is effective on releasing stress anxiety and depression, enhancing confidence and improving the quality of life.(3) In experimental group, the score reduction rate after MET treatment were significant during first three visits (≥25%) and was considered effective in the fourth visit (≥50%), which also indicated MET treatment can reduce the mean score derived from various scales.(4) With regard to whether or not the homework was assigned and finished has any influence on treatment results, the SAS and SDS showed significant differences in the third/sixth months and sixth month after treatment, respectively. The SCL-90 scores, number of positive findings, anxiety and depression factors showed significant differences six month after treatment. These data demonstrated that assigning and finishing homework can provide sustainable treatment outcome and can prevent/delay those symptoms from recurring.(5) Case study and analysis were undertaken based upon the data derived from complete treatment courses, interview records (filled out by patients) and treatment records (recorded by the therapist), and to assess their effects on the perspective of Integration of Three Adjustments, image, container, interviewing/guidance skills of therapists, objective thinking, relocation and the status of emptiness.The results showed that Integration of Three Adjustments is capable of calming and relaxing subjects. During the whole course of treatment, the therapist should be courageous, enhancing patients’confidence and self-efficacy. The image equates to problems the subject had and should be isolated and emerged naturally. The container is the capability of one’s tolerance of a problem and the ability to take control over the problem; The more visualization of the image and container, the better the treatment results. Relocation is to confront with the problem with maximum visualization. The status of emptiness is to put him/herself back to the point where there is problem-free and change the perspectives of viewing a problem from that point.In this study, the score reduction rate during different stages of treatment was more than 30% when compared to baseline scores. It demonstrated MET can relieve stress anxiety and depression effectively and reliably with a maximum of 62.5% score reduction rate.4. ConclusionsThe results of this study can be concluded into three aspects.(1) The MET can effectively relieve stress anxiety and depression, improve related psychosomatic symptoms and enhance self-efficacy.(2) The MET outpatient treatment protocol is characterized by instant effects whereas the homework provides long-term sustainability.(3) The whole course of MET treatment is focusing on the application of objective-thinking. The mechanism is more of "relocation" in the clinic versus "emptiness" in homework.