Therapeutic Massage for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Therapeutic Massage for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

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.

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.

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