Unilateral Massage as a Potential Treatment for Depression

University of Arizona

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depression

Treatments: Other: Bi-lateral massage

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01937897

13-0441

Details and patient eligibility

About

In depression, EEG studies have shown frontal asymmetry with relatively lower activity in the left hemisphere. In this study a moderate pressure massage will be conducted by a trained professional on one of the following conditions: the right side of the body, the left side of the body, or both sides of the body (a traditional massage on the back of the body) while EEG measurements of brain activity are recorded and mood ratings are obtained.

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Medically and mentally healthy, right-handed participants will be eligible for participating in this study. The age range for enrollment in the study is not restricted by any variables but will be set between 18 and 50 years of age.

Exclusion criteria

• Left-Handed subjects, persons suffering acute or chronic mental illnesses and chronic illnesses (including autoimmune illnesses).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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12 participants in 3 patient groups

Left-Sided Massage

Experimental group

Description:

Unilateral massage on the left side of the body.

Treatment:

Other: Bi-lateral massage

Right-Sided Massage

Active Comparator group

Description:

Unilateral massage on the right side of the body.

Treatment:

Other: Bi-lateral massage

Bi-Lateral Massage

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Traditional massage on the back of the body.

Treatment:

Other: Bi-lateral massage