A study from Toronto, Canada investigated the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMT) in patients with moderate to severe anxiety disorders. The results show a significant reduction in anxiety as well as an increased tolerance toward uncertain situations after only five sessions, which were conducted over a period of eight to nine weeks.
If you are interested in the exact data:
Methods: This open-label, non-randomized black-box study took place at a tertiary mental health care clinic in Toronto, Canada. Outpatient adult participants aged 18 to 65 with a primary diagnosis of moderate GAD (HAM-A score of ≥20) with or without comorbidities were enrolled in the study between June 2014 and January 2015. Patients who qualified for and completed the study received 5 individually tailored OMT sessions over a period of 8 to 9 weeks. A diagnostic psychiatric assessment (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview version 6.0.0) was performed to confirm diagnoses, along with physician-supervised and self-reported measures of anxiety, including the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale. Results: Significant reductions in total HAM-A scores after OMT were observed (P<.0001). Significant reductions in total Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale scores were also observed (P<.0001). Beck Anxiety Inventory results were not significantly changed with OMT. Response (defined as a 50% reduction in symptoms) and remission (defined as a HAM-A score of ≤7) were noted at rates of 62% and 26.9%.
