Mindfulness-based touch therapy and mindfulness practice in persons with moderate depression

The goal of the study was to explore the effects of mindfulness-based touch therapy, a passive body-therapy intervention, in combination with the practice of mindfulness as an active meditative discipline, in patients with moderate recurring or episodic depression. The method under study is seen as a possible adjunct to psychotherapy and psychopharmacotherapy. The degree of depression beforeandafterthetherapyphasewasdeterminedaccordingtoHamilton’sscale. The outcome was a highly significant improvement in depressive illness, with a general alleviation of depressed mood, reduction in feelings of guilt, in suicidal thoughts and in sleep maintenance insomnia; increase in motivation in carrying outeverydayactivities; reductioninfeelingsofanxietyatbothpsychologicaland somaticlevelsandeasingofgeneralsomaticsymptoms.Theresultsshowthatthe method under study can serve persons suffering from depression as an adjunct to conventional therapeutic measures.