The Tapping Evidence Base
Cancer & Serious Illness · Depression · Anxiety

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to reduce the side effects associated with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor use in women with breast cancer: A service evaluation

Baker, B., Hoffman, C. · European Journal of Integrative Medicine · 2015

Outcome study👥 41 participantsPreliminary✓ Source-checked📍 United Kingdom
In plain English. Women struggling with the mood and physical side effects of hormone therapy for breast cancer did a 3-week EFT course, then kept practicing on their own. Their mood, anxiety, depression, and fatigue scores all improved, holding up through 12 weeks. This was a service evaluation without a control group, so some of the improvement could reflect other factors like time or extra clinical attention.

What they found

41
people took part

Statistically significant improvements in Total Mood Disturbance (p=0.005/0.008), anxiety (p=0.003/0.028), depression (p=0.006/0.020), and fatigue (p=0.008/0.033) occurred at both 6 and 12 weeks compared to baseline; hot flush frequency also decreased.

How the study worked

Who took partwomen with breast cancer receiving hormonal therapies (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors) experiencing side effects (n=41)
What they didParticipants received tapping and were measured before and after, without a separate comparison group.
Measured withTotal Mood Disturbance scale, anxiety and depression subscales, fatigue measure, menopausal symptoms/hot flush diary

💡 Where this could help

If findings like these hold up in larger trials, the promise is simple: a low-cost, self-administered tool that could reach people struggling with cancer & serious illness who can't easily access traditional care — at home, between appointments, or where there aren't enough clinicians to go around.

🔬 What to study next

The natural next step: a head-to-head trial against an established treatment like CBT, and a larger sample to confirm the effect.

The full record

DesignOutcome study
Participants41 people
Populationwomen with breast cancer receiving hormonal therapies (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors) experiencing side effects
Outcome measuresTotal Mood Disturbance scale, anxiety and depression subscales, fatigue measure, menopausal symptoms/hot flush diary
JournalEuropean Journal of Integrative Medicine
Year2015
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
MethodEFT / tapping
Publication typeStudy / trial
Verification✓ Confirmed against the primary source

Read the original study →

Cite this study

APA

Baker, B., & Hoffman, C. (2015). Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to reduce the side effects associated with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor use in women with breast cancer: A service evaluation. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2014.10.004

This record is part of the Tapping Evidence Base — an openly-sourced, fully-referenced directory of the research on EFT/tapping. Explore more studies on Cancer & Serious Illness · Depression · Anxiety

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THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE Cancer & Serious Illness 41 participants WHAT THEY FOUND Statistically significant improvements inTotal Mood Disturbance (p=0.005/0.008),anxiety (p=0.003/0.028), depression… Outcome study · 41 participants Baker · 2015 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com