Therapeutic Massage for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Interventions: Behavioral: thermotherapy; Behavioral: massage; Behavioral: relaxing environment

• Registration Number: NCT00515242
• Lead Sponsor: Kaiser Permanente

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the relative effectiveness of three relaxation treatments (therapeutic massage, thermotherapy, and time in a relaxing environment) in reducing anxiety in persons with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Detailed Description

Anxiety and stress are costly problems that afflict millions of American adults. Together, they are among the most common reasons for which adults use complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies as well as more conventional relaxation therapies. Although massage is one of the most popular CAM treatments for anxiety, its effectiveness for this problem has never been rigorously evaluated. This study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of massage as a treatment for a diagnosed anxiety disorder. Massage will be compared with two other relaxing treatments: thermotherapy and time in a relaxing environment, which reflect the types of activities that persons with anxiety might try to relieve their symptoms.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2007-08-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2007-08-10
• Study First Posted: 2007-08-13
• Study Start: 2007-09
• Primary Completion: 2008-10
• Study Completion: 2009-08
• Status Verified: 2017-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-10-11
• Last Update Posted: 2017-10-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 68

Inclusion Criteria

• Member of Group Health, Seattle metropolitan area
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder confirmed by SCID
• At least moderate anxiety

Exclusion Criteria

• Serious mental health co-morbidity
• Any life threatening condition
• Currently receiving psychotherapy
• Substantial alcohol use
• Contraindications for massage

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
2	thermotherapy	Thermotherapy
1	massage	Therapeutic massage
3	relaxing environment	Relaxation

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
anxiety	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
worry, depression, disability	6 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Group Health Research Institute; 🇺🇸 Seattle, Washington, United States