Chair massage for treating anxiety in patients withdrawing from drugs...

CONTEXT: Therapeutic massage has been proven to be an effective, nonpharmacologic, alternative for managing state and trait anxiety in a variety of clinical situations. However, no controlled study has investigated this effect in an addiction treatment setting. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of chair massage for reducing anxiety in persons participating in an inpatient withdrawal management program for psychoactive drugs. DESIGN: The design was a randomized, controlled clinical trial conducted from June 2008 to January 2009. SUBJECTS: Eighty-two (82) adult patients received inpatient treatment for psychoactive drug withdrawal (alcohol, cocaine, and opiates). SETTING: This study was conducted at the Withdrawal Management Services at the Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomly assigned to receive chair massage (n?=?40) or a relaxation control condition (n?=?42). Treatments were offered for 3 consecutive days. Standard counseling and pharmacologic management were also offered concurrently to patients in all conditions. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome measure was anxiety assessed using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). State and trait anxiety scores were determined immediately prior to and following each treatment intervention. RESULTS: Analysis of STAI scores showed a significant reduction in state and trait anxiety for both interventions (p? J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Sep;16(9):979-87. Black S, Jacques K, Webber A, Spurr K, Carey E, Hebb A, Gilbert R. Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services, Capital District Health Authority, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.