There is a growing body of research supporting the Emotion Efficacy protocol and the Emotion Effiacy Scale (EES2):

In a pre-post pilot, (n=22) people reported significant and large decreases in emotion dysregulation, significant and large increases indistress tolerance and a significant large decrease in avoiding unwanted emotional experiences, as well as a significant decrease in symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress (West, 2013).

In a 2014 randomized controlled trial, (n=14) participants of the 8-week emotion efficacy protocol training compared to a wait list condition reported significant and large decreases in emotion dysregulation, significant and large increases in distress tolerance and a significant large decrease in avoiding unwanted emotional experiences (West, 2014).

In a pre-post outcome study (n= 18), participants with dual diagnoses of the 8-week emotion efficacy protocol training, comparing TAU (CBT and 12 step) to TAU + EET, reported significant and large decreases in emotion dysregulation, significant and large increases in distress tolerance, as well as a 50% reduction in relapse (West, 2016).

In a randomized controlled trial, (n=41) participants of the 8-week emotion efficacy protocol training compared to a wait list condition reported significant and large decreases in emotion dysregulation, significant and large increases in distress tolerance and a significant large decrease in avoiding unwanted emotional experiences (Sutton-Smolin, 2018).

In a pre-post outcome study (n=40), participants of the 8-week emotion efficacy protocol training reported significant decreases in internet dependency and negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies (Bayrami et al, 2021).

A randomized controlled trial (n=45) comparing emotional efficacy therapy to metacognitive therapy found that EET was an effective treatment for improving depressive symptoms and strengthening self-care ability in the depressed elderly (Sarkami, F. et al, 2020).

In a randomized controlled trial (n=36) , the emotional efficacy protocol (EET) was found to be superior to the universal protocol (UP) in reducing emotion dysregulation in adults presenting with significant anxiety and stuttering (Zareie Faskhudi et al 2021).

An analysis showed that emotion efficacy as measured by the Emotion Efficacy Scale (EES-2) increased predictive analysis for impulsive and risky behavior among a population vulnerable to HIV/AIDS by 59% ( Asadi et al, 2022).

In a randomized controlled trial (n=34), comparing the mechanism of change in cognitive-behavioral therapy and emotion efficacy therapy for improving psychological adjustment of women with breast cancer showed that cognitive and emotional flexibility played a significant role in both experimental groups for both CBT and EET, and a significant interaction between valued action and EET (t = − 4.97; P = 0.001); not for CBT (t = − 0.62; P = 0.549) (Mazloom et al, 2023).

In a randomized controlled trial (n=30), the emotional efficacy protocol (EET) compared to a wait list condition, the experimental group reported significant increases in self-control and intimacy. (Niknezhadi et al, 2023).

Research Citations:

Asadi, M. M., Akbari, M., Mohammadkhani, S., & Hasani, J. (2022). Emotion efficacy improves prediction of hiv/aids risky behaviors: A modified information-motivation-behavioral skills model. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy. 40(2), 234-251.

Niknezhadi , M., Sajjadian , I., & Manshaee , G. (2023). The effectiveness of emotion efficacy therapy on self-control and intimacy of women injured by trauma from husband infidelity. Applied Family Therapy Journal (AFTJ) , 4(2), 29-46. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.aftj.4.2.2

Zareie Faskhudi, B., Karbalaee Mohammad Meigouni, A., Rezabakhsh, H., & Ghelichi, L. (2021). Comparison of the effect of unified transdiagnostic treatment from emotional disorders and emotion efficacy therapy on emotion regulation among adults with stuttering. Journal Of Applied Psychological Research, 12(2), 185-209. doi: 10.22059/japr.2021.312232.643672

Mazloom, M. et al.,(2023). Comparing the mechanism of change of cognitive-behavioral therapy and emotion efficacy therapy in improving psychological adjustment of women with breast cancer: The role of cognitive and emotional flexibility, illness perception, and valued action. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy. 16. 10.1007/s41811-023-00180-2.

Bayrami, M., Abad, T., Esmaeilpour, K. & Shiri, A. (2021). Effectiveness of emotion efficacy therapy on internet dependency and psychological vulnerability in students with symptoms of internet addiction. 10.22054/jcps.2021.56400.2459.

Abdi Sarkami F., Mirzaian B, Abbasi G. (2020). The effectiveness of emotion efficacy therapy on the level of depression and self-care ability of non-clinical depressed elderly. IJNR 2021; 15 (6) :65-74 URL: http://ijnr.ir/article-1-2401-en.html

Bozkurt, F., Uzun, R. B., & West, A. (2024). Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the Emotion Efficacy Scale – 2 in a Sample of Turkish Emerging Adults. Emerging Adulthood, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968241247878.

Foroughi, A. A., Parvizifard, A., Sadeghi, K., & Moghadam, A. P. (2021). Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 43(2), 101–107. https://doi.org/10.47626/2237-6089-2018-0106.

Shannon, M. 2018. Measuring Emotion Regulation, Psychological Flexibility and Valued Living through the Emotion Efficacy Scale: A Validation Study. The Wright Institute, Berkeley California.