The Tapping Evidence Base
Pain

Effects of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on the reduction of chronic pain in adults: A pilot study

Ortner, N., Palmer-Hoffman, J., Clond, M.A. · Energy Psychology Journal · 2014

Outcome study 👥 50 participants Preliminary ✓ Source-checked
In plain English. 50 adults with chronic pain learned tapping over a 3-day workshop. Right after, their pain-related catastrophic thinking and several pain measures improved a lot; six months later, they still felt more in control of their pain even though some pain-severity gains faded. No comparison group means we can't rule out placebo or natural improvement over time.

What they found

50
50 adults with chronic pain learned tapping over a 3-day workshop.

Significant reductions were found on PCS total score (-43%, p<.001) and MPI subscales (severity, interference, life control, affective distress, dysfunctional composite); at 6-month follow-up, PCS reductions were maintained (-42%, p<.001) but only the MPI life control item held.

How the study worked

Who took part adults with chronic pain attending a 3-day EFT workshop (n=50)
What they did Participants received tapping and were measured before and after, without a separate comparison group.
Measured with Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI)

💡 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 pain 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 randomized controlled design.

The full record

DesignOutcome study
Participants50 people
Populationadults with chronic pain attending a 3-day EFT workshop
Outcome measuresPain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI)
JournalEnergy Psychology Journal
Year2014
LanguageEnglish
MethodEFT / Tapping
Publication typeStudy / trial
Verification✓ Confirmed against the primary source

Read the original study →

Cite this study

APA

Ortner, N., Palmer-Hoffman, J., & Clond, M.A. (2014). Effects of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on the reduction of chronic pain in adults: A pilot study. Energy Psychology Journal. https://doi.org/10.9769/EPJ.2014.11.2.NO.JH.MC

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 Pain

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THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE Pain 50 participants WHAT THEY FOUND Significant reductions were found on PCStotal score (-43%, p<.001) and MPI subscales(severity, interference, life… Outcome study · 50 participants Ortner · 2014 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com