Mindfulness and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): Holistic interventions for adolescent depression and anxiety

Abstract

Adolescent depression has grown into a health crisis that includes disparities in adolescent minority health and ethical violations of overmedicating youth. Adverse reactions to overmedicating include increased self harming, agitation, impulsivity, loss of inhibition, and disruption of physical and emotional child development. This project examines interventions that preserve the dignity and worth of the person through empowerment of adolescent patients which have demonstrated greater success rates in overcoming trauma, depression and anxiety. Such interventions include complimentary, holistic techniques to treat the whole person such as self awareness, meditation and meridian tapping. This project analyzes literature on the treatment of adolescent depression specifically the evidence supporting the efficacy of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR) and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) in treating adolescent depression and anxiety in order to make recommendations for social work and health care professionals.