The Tapping Evidence Base
Other Physical Conditions · Multiple Conditions

Determining the Effects of Emotional Freedom Techniques on Sexual Dysfunction and Self-Care Management in Women Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis

Çuvadar, A., Günes, A., Çuvadar Bas, Y., Kehaya, S. · Brain and Behavior · 2025

Outcome study👥 16 participantsPreliminary✓ Source-checked📍 Turkey
In plain English. Sixteen women with multiple sclerosis received biweekly EFT sessions plus affirmation practice, and their sexual dysfunction scores improved by around seven weeks, along with some aspects of self-care. This is a small, uncontrolled pretest-posttest study with a very small sample, so the results should be seen as an early signal rather than confirmed evidence.

What they found

16
people took part

Mean scores of all MSISQ-19 subdimensions reached their lowest (best) levels by the seventh week following EFT intervention (p<0.05), with improvement in the social protection dimension of self-care, though self-protection subdimension scores decreased.

How the study worked

Who took partwomen aged 19-49 diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, presenting to a neurology clinic in a university hospital in Türkiye (n=16)
What they didParticipants received tapping and were measured before and after, without a separate comparison group.
Measured withMultiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire-19 (MSISQ-19), Self-Care Management Process in Chronic Illness (SCMP-G)

💡 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 other physical conditions 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
Participants16 people
Populationwomen aged 19-49 diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, presenting to a neurology clinic in a university hospital in Türkiye
Outcome measuresMultiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire-19 (MSISQ-19), Self-Care Management Process in Chronic Illness (SCMP-G)
JournalBrain and Behavior
Year2025
CountryTurkey
LanguageEnglish
MethodEFT / tapping
Publication typeStudy / trial
Verification✓ Confirmed against the primary source

Read the original study →

Cite this study

APA

Çuvadar, A., Günes, A., Çuvadar Bas, Y., & Kehaya, S. (2025). Determining the Effects of Emotional Freedom Techniques on Sexual Dysfunction and Self-Care Management in Women Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis. Brain and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70635

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 Other Physical Conditions

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THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE Other Physical Conditions 16 participants WHAT THEY FOUND Mean scores of all MSISQ-19 subdimensionsreached their lowest (best) levels by theseventh week following EFT… Outcome study · 16 participants Çuvadar · 2025 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com