This randomised, clinical trial tested whether The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) reduced food cravings. This study involved 96 overweight or obese adults who were allocated to the EFT treatment or 4-week waitlist condition. Degree of food craving, perceived power of food, restraint capabilities and psychological symptoms were assessed pre- and post- a 4-week treatment program (mixed method ANOVA comparative analysis), and at 6-month follow-up (repeated measure ANOVA with group data collapsed). EFT was associated with a significantly greater improvement in food cravings, the subjective power of food and craving restraint than waitlist from pre- to immediately post-test (p < .05). Across collapsed groups, an improvement in food cravings and the subjective power of food after active EFT treatment was maintained at 6 months, and a delayed effect was seen for craving restraint. Although there was a significant reduction in measures of psychological distress immediately after treatment (p < .05), there was no between-group difference. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that EFT can have an immediate effect on reducing food cravings and can result in maintaining reduced cravings over time.

Perfectionism has been suggested as a risk factor for the development of stress and burnout in psychotherapists, but this has not been extensively investigated. This study examined the relationship between perfectionism, stress and burnout in 87 Australian clinical psychologists. Stress had significant influences on the relationship between perfectionism and burnout. Specifically, stress was found to be a partial intervening variable in the relationship between perfectionism and personal burnout. In addition, stress was also found to completely mediate the influence of perfectionism on work-related and client-related burnout. The results indicated that perfectionism was both directly and indirectly related through stress to various types of burnout in clinical psychologists. Implications of the findings for research in to the utility of intervention for high levels of perfectionism in clinical psychologists are discussed.

Cognitive behavioural models suggest that individuals abandon their weight loss efforts because they fail to achieve their weight loss goal, their perceived benefits of weight loss (primary goals), or both. There are currently no published tools available to adequately measure primary goals. The purpose of the current study was to explore the factor structure and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Primary Goals for Weight Loss Questionnaire (PGWLQ). One hundred and twenty-seven overweight and obese adult females actively trying to lose weight completed the PGWLQ. A four-factor solution (Comfort & Mobility; Fitness; Health & Illness; Participation & Activity) provided the best fit for the physical items, and a five-factor solution (Body Image & Self-esteem; Clothing Options & Fashion; Work Productivity & Opportunity; Social Life & Desirability; Sexual Confidence) provided the best fit for the psychosocial items. All PGWLQ factors demonstrated good convergent and discriminant validity. The PGWLQ demonstrated excellent internal consistency and weak to moderate test–retest reliability. Results of the present study suggest that the PGWLQ may be a promising research and clinical tool and further refinement of the PGWLQ and investigation of its factor structure is warranted.

Accessibility, stigma and adverse effects of self-reliance can hinder the receipt of psychological treatments, especially in people living with chronic illness or disability. The aim of this study was to develop and pilot a flexible online psychological treatment using CBT and positive-psychology based techniques, for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who also lived with depression or both depression and anxiety. A multiple case study approach provided in-principle evidence of the acceptability of the Electronic Personal Administration of Cognitive Therapy: ePACT. Three adults living with SCI completed pre- and post-intervention interviews and multiple modules of ePACT. The interviews used the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID/-N/P) for diagnosis and the standardised survey instruments: Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale — short version (DASS-21), Personal Wellbeing Index 4th edition (PWI) and the Spinal Cord Lesion Emotional Wellbeing Questionnaire (SCL EWQ v1 Australia). The results indicated that the online program was acceptable, and they all showed some improvement in symptoms. All participants indicated that they would not have sought face-to-face therapy for reasons of access and stigma. They all had a strong sense of independence and felt this would have been questioned if they sought therapy.