Massage may soothe anxiety by calming brain circuits
NCT ID NCT06506253
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study compares Swedish massage to light touch therapy in 46 adults with generalized anxiety disorder. Participants receive twice-weekly sessions for six weeks, and brain scans measure changes in anxiety-related networks. The goal is to see if touch therapies can reduce anxiety symptoms and alter brain activity.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Swedish massage therapy and light touch therapy
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a drug-free way to reduce anxiety symptoms by targeting specific brain networks.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 46 people, so results may not apply to everyone. The effects of touch therapy may be no better than a placebo.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
Enter your email to view the contact information for this study.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Study contacts
-
Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
-
Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
-
Huntsman Mental Health Institute
RECRUITINGSalt Lake City, Utah, 84108, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Contact
Contact
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Contact
Contact
Contact
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can money worries trigger depression in students? a study digs deep
- Could a group therapy tackle both depression and anxiety in teens?
- What makes therapy work? study digs into the 'How' of treating anxious and depressed kids
- Could a single brain target treat depression, anxiety, and OCD at once?
- Could CBD be the next frontier for anxiety relief?
- New pill aims to quiet the constant worry of anxiety disorder