Massage Therapy for Psychiatric Disorders

Overview

Journal Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ)

Specialty Medical Education

Date 2020 Jan 25

PMID 31975897

Citations 8

Authors

Mark Hyman Rapaport

Pamela J Schettler

Erika R Larson

Dedric Carroll

Margaret Sharenko

James Nettles

Becky Kinkead

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This article reviews the current state of knowledge of the role of massage therapy in the treatment of common psychiatric disorders and symptoms. It briefly discusses the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the popularity of complementary and integrative treatments in the general population. The authors touch on the growing literature describing the biology and neurobiology of massage therapy. The impact of massage as both a therapy for major psychiatric disorders and a treatment for psychiatric symptoms is reviewed, and how massage therapists conceptualize and treat their patients with psychiatric complaints is discussed. If psychiatrists are going to partner with massage therapists, they need to understand how massage therapists' perspectives differ from those of traditional practitioners of allopathic medicine. A model of how psychiatrists and other mental health professionals can work with massage therapists to care for patients is proposed, followed by a summary of the article's key points.

Citing Articles

Visual analysis of research hotspots and trends of external therapies in traditional Chinese medicine for depression.

Kong L, Hu J, Yue M, Xin X, Lin F, Hu Y Heliyon. 2024; 10(17):e36918.

PMID: 39286159 PMC: 11402998. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36918.

The skin-brain connection and pleasant touch as supportive care for psychocutaneous disorders.

Roque Ferreira B, Aguirre C, Rapoport-Hubschman N, Adewuya A, Canchy L, Morizet D Skin Health Dis. 2024; 4(1):e310.

PMID: 38312257 PMC: 10831560. DOI: 10.1002/ski2.310.

Patient Attitudes and Perceived Barriers Toward Mental Health Treatment Options in a Rural Student-Run Clinic.

Downing M, Hydzik M, Dogbey G, Motyka T Cureus. 2024; 15(12):e50667.

PMID: 38229804 PMC: 10790727. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.50667.

The efficacy of Tuina with herbal ointment for patients with post-stroke depression: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Tao J, Kong L, Fang M, Zhu Q, Zhang S, Zhang S Trials. 2021; 22(1):504.

PMID: 34321056 PMC: 8320029. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05469-1.

The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Amnesia in Patients Undergoing Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Alinejad Machiani S, Areshtanab H, Ebrahimi H, Sarbakhsh P, Noorazar S, Goljarian S J Caring Sci. 2021; 10(1):15-21.

PMID: 33816380 PMC: 8008232. DOI: 10.34172/jcs.2021.004.

References

Berger S, Braehler E, Ernst J . The health professional-patient-relationship in conventional versus complementary and alternative medicine. A qualitative study comparing the perceived use of medical shared decision-making between two different approaches of medicine. Patient Educ Couns. 2012; 88(1):129-37. DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2012.01.003. View

Barnes P, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin R . Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2002. Adv Data. 2004; (343):1-19. View

Netchanok S, Wendy M, Marie C, Siobhan O . The effectiveness of Swedish massage and traditional Thai massage in treating chronic low back pain: a review of the literature. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2012; 18(4):227-34. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2012.07.001. View

Furlan A, Pennick V, Bombardier C, van Tulder M . 2009 updated method guidelines for systematic reviews in the Cochrane Back Review Group. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009; 34(18):1929-41. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181b1c99f. View

Moyer C, Rounds J, Hannum J . A meta-analysis of massage therapy research. Psychol Bull. 2004; 130(1):3-18. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.130.1.3. View

Rapaport M, Schettler P, Breese C . A preliminary study of the effects of a single session of Swedish massage on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and immune function in normal individuals. J Altern Complement Med. 2010; 16(10):1079-88. PMC: 3107905. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2009.0634. View

Moyle W, Cooke M, Beattie E, Shum D, ODwyer S, Barrett S . Foot massage versus quiet presence on agitation and mood in people with dementia: a randomised controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2013; 51(6):856-64. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2013.10.019. View

Nerbass F, Feltrim M, Souza S, Ykeda D, Lorenzi-Filho G . Effects of massage therapy on sleep quality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2011; 65(11):1105-10. PMC: 2999703. DOI: 10.1590/s1807-59322010001100008. View

Kessler R, Soukup J, Davis R, Foster D, Wilkey S, Van Rompay M . The use of complementary and alternative therapies to treat anxiety and depression in the United States. Am J Psychiatry. 2001; 158(2):289-94. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.158.2.289. View

10.

Wu J, Cui Y, Yang Y, Kang M, Jung S, Park H . Modulatory effects of aromatherapy massage intervention on electroencephalogram, psychological assessments, salivary cortisol and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Complement Ther Med. 2014; 22(3):456-62. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2014.04.001. View

11.

Rapaport M, Schettler P, Larson E, Edwards S, Dunlop B, Rakofsky J . Acute Swedish Massage Monotherapy Successfully Remediates Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Proof-of-Concept, Randomized Controlled Study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2016; 77(7):e883-91. PMC: 11708495. DOI: 10.4088/JCP.15m10151. View

12.

Fortune L, Hymel G . Creating integrative work: a qualitative study of how massage therapists work with existing clients. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2015; 19(1):25-34. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2014.01.005. View

13.

Purohit M, Wells R, Zafonte R, Davis R, Phillips R . Neuropsychiatric symptoms and the use of complementary and alternative medicine. PM R. 2012; 5(1):24-31. PMC: 3824364. DOI: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.06.012. View

14.

. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Lancet. 2015; 386(9995):743-800. PMC: 4561509. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60692-4. View

15.

Kennedy A, Cambron J, Sharpe P, Travillian R, Saunders R . Process for massage therapy practice and essential assessment. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2016; 20(3):484-96. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.01.007. View

16.

Oliveira D, Hachul H, Goto V, Tufik S, Bittencourt L . Effect of therapeutic massage on insomnia and climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women. Climacteric. 2011; 15(1):21-9. DOI: 10.3109/13697137.2011.587557. View

17.

Diego M, Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Shaw K, Friedman L, Ironson G . HIV adolescents show improved immune function following massage therapy. Int J Neurosci. 2001; 106(1-2):35-45. DOI: 10.3109/00207450109149736. View

18.

Bystritsky A, Hovav S, Sherbourne C, Stein M, Rose R, Campbell-Sills L . Use of complementary and alternative medicine in a large sample of anxiety patients. Psychosomatics. 2012; 53(3):266-72. PMC: 4014348. DOI: 10.1016/j.psym.2011.11.009. View

19.

Deligiannidis K, Freeman M . Complementary and alternative medicine therapies for perinatal depression. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2013; 28(1):85-95. PMC: 3992885. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2013.08.007. View

20.

Shor-Posner G, Miguez M, Hernandez-Reif M, Perez-Then E, Fletcher M . Massage treatment in HIV-1 infected Dominican children: a preliminary report on the efficacy of massage therapy to preserve the immune system in children without antiretroviral medication. J Altern Complement Med. 2005; 10(6):1093-5. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2004.10.1093. View