Effects of Flotation REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique) on Stress Related Muscle Pain : Are 33 flotation sessions more effective as compared to 12 sessions?

• The aim of the study was to investigate whether or not 33 flotation sessions were more effective for stress-related ailments than 12 sessions. Participants were 37 patients, 29 women and 8 men, all diagnosed as having stress-related pain of a muscle tension type. The patients were randomized to one of two conditions: 12 flotation-REST treatments or 33 flotation-REST treatments. Analyses for subjective pain typically indicated that 12 sessions were enough to get considerable improvements and no further improvements were noticed after 33 sessions. A similar pattern was observed concerning the stress-related psychological variables: experienced stress, anxiety, depression, negative affectivity, dispositional optimism, and sleep quality. For blood pressure no effects were observed after 12 sessions, but there was a significant lower level for diastolic blood pressure after 33 sessions. The present study highlighted the importance of finding suitable complementary treatments in order to make further progress after the initial 12 sessions.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi -- Tillämpad psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology -- Applied Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

anxiety

depression

dispositional optimism

Flotation-REST

negative affectivity

pain

relaxation response

sleep quality

stress

Psychology with an emphasis on medical psychology

Psykologi inr. medicinsk psykologi

Psykologi

Psychology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)