Exploring how massage therapy affects anxiety and brain function
Official title: Massage for GAD: Neuroimaging and clinical correlates of response
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-10665241 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how Swedish massage therapy can help people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder by seeing how it affects their emotions and brain activity, especially in areas related to anxiety, and if it can lead to feeling better overall.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $423,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AT011940-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10665241 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are experiencing symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with anxiety disorders who are not open to alternative therapies or those currently undergoing other intensive treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of Swedish massage therapy on patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). It aims to understand how massage can influence emotional reactivity and brain function, particularly focusing on the amygdala and other related brain areas. By using neuroimaging techniques, the study will assess changes in brain connectivity and how these correlate with improvements in anxiety symptoms. Participants will receive massage therapy and undergo brain scans to evaluate the impact of this treatment on their mental health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, accessible treatment option for individuals suffering from anxiety disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results for massage therapy in reducing anxiety, but this research is novel in its use of neuroimaging to explore the underlying brain mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rapaport, Mark Hyman — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Rapaport, Mark Hyman
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.