Mechanical Affective Touch Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: Effects on Resting State Functional Connectivity.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Mechanical Affective Touch Therapy (MATT) is a safe, novel form of noninvasive peripheral nerve stimulation. Although mechanical stimulation activates nerves, we know little about its impact on psychiatric symptoms and their underlying cortical mechanisms. We examined the effects of open-label MATT on resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) and its relationship with anxiety and affective symptomatology (clinical results in separate report).

Materials and methods

A total of 22 adults with an Axis I anxiety disorder were recruited from the community. After two initial sessions assisted by research staff, participants self-administered 20-minute sessions of MATT at home at least twice daily for four weeks. Self-report measures of mood and anxiety severity were c

SUBMITTER: Gonsalves MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9256848 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature