情緒釋放技術對緩解患有慢性疼痛成年人的焦慮與生理反應成效

Effects of Emotional Freedom Techniques on Ameliorating Anxiety and Physiological Responses in Adults with Chronic Pain

目的：本研究旨在探討介入情緒釋放技術改善情緒與疼痛之成效。方法：招募180位患有疼痛超過三個月以上者，共87位隨機分配至介入情緒釋放技術的實驗組或對照組。結果：受試者平均年齡為48.9歲，77.1%患有慢性疾病。試驗前情境特質焦慮量表總分平均為44.9分，介入10分鐘試驗後實驗組降低34.2%優於對照組的10.6%(p=0.017)。此外，實驗組降低54.4%疼痛量表得分優於對照組的21.6%(-4.9 vs. -1.9分，p=0.001)。對於血壓、心跳與自律神經則無顯著作用。結論：情緒釋放技術能有效緩解疼痛及焦慮情緒，未來可持續介入長期試驗的研究，以及鼓勵患者作為舒緩慢性疼痛之情緒壓力。

Objectives. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) in improving emotion and pain outcomes.
Methods. A total of 180 individuals who had been experiencing pain for more than three months were recruited. Of these, 87 were assigned to either the experimental group receiving EFT intervention or the control group in a randomized control trial.
Results. The average age of subjects was 48.9 years, and 77.1% of them had chronic diseases. Before the intervention, the mean score on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was 44.9. After a 10-minute intervention, the experimental group showing a 34.2% reduction, which was greater than the control group's reduction of 10.6% (-4.9 vs. -1.9, p=0.017). Additionally, the experimental group’s pain scale scores decreased by 54.4%, compared to the control group's decrease of 21.6% (p=0.001). However, there were no significant effects on blood pressures, heart rate, and autonomic nervous system measures.
Conclusion. The present study found that the EFT may effectively alleviate pain and anxiety. Future research can continue to conduct long-term intervention trials and encourage patients to use these techniques to relieve emotional stress from chronic pain.