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Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie

Erschienen in:

23.11.2021 | Themenschwerpunkt

Massage and touch-based therapy

Clinical evidence, neurobiology and applications in older patients with psychiatric symptoms

verfasst von: PD Dr. Daniel Kopf

Erschienen in: Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie | Ausgabe 8/2021

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Abstract

Background

Massage and touch-based treatment are popular despite limited evidence from high quality clinical trials. This article reviews the rationale and evidence of treating older patients with psychiatric symptoms by touch-based therapy.

Methods

Narrative literature review, based on Medline search with the following key words: massage, social touch, affective touch, clinical trial, meta-analysis. Citations of identified articles were searched for additional relevant studies.

Results

Evidence from clinical trials in adult patients with mainly chronic disorders of the musculoskeletal system suggests that massage therapy results in significant short-term improvement of symptoms; however, treatment effects appear not to be sustained. In addition, conclusions are difficult to draw owing to very heterogeneous study interventions, difficulties with definition of control conditions and treatment outcomes. There appears to be better evidence for improvement of psychological variables and subjective symptoms, such as pain and quality of life. A neuronal system of affective and social touch has been identified with specific afferents from C‑fibre coupled low threshold mechanoreceptors projecting into the insular cortex and the limbic system. This system may also mediate effects of massage in adult patients. Positive clinical trials for depressive symptoms of dementia and for behavioral symptoms of advanced dementia are available with encouraging results.

Conclusion

The neuronal system of social and affective touch suggests a potential mechanism of action of touch-based interventions in geriatric psychiatry. In addition, it provides a rationale for applying and designing novel touch-based treatment strategies as adjunctive treatment for psychiatric disorders of old age.

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Titel: Massage and touch-based therapy
Clinical evidence, neurobiology and applications in older patients with psychiatric symptoms
verfasst von: PD Dr. Daniel Kopf
Publikationsdatum: 23.11.2021
Verlag: Springer Medizin
Erschienen in: Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie / Ausgabe 8/2021
Print ISSN: 0948-6704
Elektronische ISSN: 1435-1269
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-021-01995-4

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