The Tapping Evidence Base
Other Physical Conditions

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 participantsPreliminary✓ 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
people took part

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 partadults with chronic pain attending a 3-day EFT workshop (n=50)
What they didParticipants received tapping and were measured before and after, without a separate comparison group.
Measured withPain 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 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 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

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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 Other Physical Conditions

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THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE Other Physical Conditions 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