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NCT01337713 · ClinicalTrials.gov registry record · NA

Efficacy of Massage Therapy in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A NA study, sponsored by Emory University.

Completed
Registry status
NA
Development phase
40
Enrollment target

NCT01337713: Completed NA study, sponsored by Emory University.

NCT01337713 is a NA study that has completed, run by Emory University. The registered enrollment target is 40 participants, below the 1,404-participant average among 58,714 other NA trials with a reported enrollment target (97% lower). According to ClinicalTrials.gov, the official US trial registry.

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The verdict

NCT01337713, a NA study, has completed, sponsored by Emory University.

COMPLETED
Registry status
NA
Development phase
40 participants
Enrollment target

Study Summary

There is an impressive and growing body of data suggesting that massage therapy is effective in decreasing some symptoms of pathological conditions as well as facilitating growth, reducing pain, increasing alertness, diminishing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and enhancing immune function. Preliminary studies suggest that massage therapy decreases symptoms of anxiety and depression, and lowers salivary cortisol levels in a wide array of childhood and adult neuropsychiatric disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit-disorder hyperactivity, depression, bulimia and anorexia-nervosa. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by the presence of a constellation of signs and symptoms for at least 6 months in duration, with some type of functional disability or decrease in quality of life. The signs and symptoms of GAD include a myriad of somatic symptoms including muscle tension, headaches, backaches, fatigue, restlessness, insomnia, as well as psychological feelings of worry, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed. Both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy are effective in decreasing the signs and symptoms of GAD. Unfortunately, the vast majority of patients with GAD never receive adequate pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy. Therefore, the development of a complementary and alternative therapy that has demonstrated efficacy for GAD might be well received by patients. This study's goals are to investigate the efficacy of Swedish massage therapy vs. light touch therapy and better understand the biological effects of massage in patients with anxiety. Qualified participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups in which they will receive Swedish massage therapy twice per week for 12 weeks or Light Touch therapy twice per week for 6 weeks followed by Swedish massage therapy twice per week for the next 6 weeks. The total length of the study is 13 weeks, which includes a screening visit that takes about 3 hours and two therapy visits per

Interventions

  • OTHER Light Touch
  • OTHER Swedish Massage

Trial Details

FieldValue
Enrollment Target 40 participants
Start Date 2010-09
Est. Completion 2014-07
Phase NA
Emory University

1,208 total trials

What the finished NCT01337713 record still lists

NCT01337713 is an interventional study that assigns participants to a tested intervention. The registry caps enrollment at 40 participants, a relatively small participant target, below the 1,404-participant average among 58,714 other NA trials with a reported enrollment target (97% lower).

The record links to 0 conditions, and to 2 interventions - of which Light Touch is the first listed.

NCT01337713 does not publish any study locations in the registry export this page uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is clinical trial NCT01337713 about?

NCT01337713 is a clinical study titled "Efficacy of Massage Therapy in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)". There is an impressive and growing body of data suggesting that massage therapy is effective in decreasing some symptoms of pathological conditions as well as facilitating growth, reducing pain, increasing alertness, diminishing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and enhancing immune function. Prel...

What is the current status of trial NCT01337713?

This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 40 participants. The study started on 2010-09. Estimated completion is 2014-07.

What interventions are being tested in trial NCT01337713?

The interventions under investigation include: Light Touch (OTHER), Swedish Massage (OTHER).

Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT01337713?

This trial is sponsored by Emory University, which has 1,208 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How this trial's enrollment target compares

Where NCT01337713's enrollment target sits among peer trials

40 1447th of 2000 higher than 465 of 2,000 other NA trials

participants (enrollment target), bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more other NA trials. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source ClinicalTrials.gov registry export · 2026-08-08

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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01337713, the US trial registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine. NCT01337713 (small enrollment · none site footprint · completed) retrieved and formatted by PlainTrial, see methodology.