Use of Hydrotherapy in Reduction of Anxiety

The induction of relaxation can be accomplished through more traditional methods (4) or with more rapid techniques such as biofeedback ( 2 ) or attenuated versions of relaxation training ( 1 ) . Many unsubstantiated accounts and a few suggestive reports (3, 5 ) indicate that warm, moving water may also produce a decrement in anxiety. The present study assessed empirically whether hydrotherapy reduces self-reported or physiologically monitored anxiety. Ten female and 4 male outpatients (mean age of 37 yr.), with diagnoses within the 'anxiety disorders range of DSM 111, agreed to participate. To limit effects, a counterdemand or subtractive expectancy ( 6 ) manipulation was employed, in which patients were told the experimental session was simply a baseline measure of their anxiety and chat no significant reduction in anxiety could be expected to occur. Each subject was individually seated in a hot t u b (1.82 m diameter, 1.52 m deep) with temperature set at 38 C. Frontalis EMG level was measured with an Autogenics 1700 myograph. Four jets, powered by a 2.5-hp motor were directed at the s u b jea. EMG levels were recorded for the first 60 sec. after entering the unit and the final 60 sec. Subjective units of disturbance ( 7 ) were recorded for the week prior to treatment, upon entering the unit, and just before exiting. Although there was no significant difference in subjective units of disturbance for the week before treaunenc (M, 48.21; SD, 13.40) and upon entering the tub (M, 41.21; SD, 24.31), there was a significant reduction at the end of 15 min. of hydrotherapy (M. 17.29; SD, 21.38; t = 3.82, d f = 13, P < ,002). There was also a significant decrease in EMG level after 15 m i n of hydrotherapy. from 2.98 mv (SD, 1.28) to 2.01 mv (SD, 0.89; t = 3.86, d f = 13, p < ,002). That both subjective and EMG measures of anxiety decreased with only 15 min. of hydrotherapy, although no long-term assessment was made, suggests hydrotherapy can have a significant short-term effect on anxiety.