A Guide To What Works For Anxiety Disorders - Mental Health First Aid

Water-based treatmentsOur ratingOur ratingGAD? Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia ?PTSD and ASD? Specific Phobias ?Social Phobia? OCD ?WHAT IS IT?Water-based treatments (e.g. hydrotherapy, crenotherapy) aretreatments involving water, mud and steam. Different methods ofapplication include spa baths, saunas, mud bandages, water massage,and jet sprays.HOW IS IT MEANT TO WORK?Water-based treatments are thought to work because they are relaxing.Mineral water-based treatments might also work by replenishing thebody’s supply of important elements such as selenium, calcium andcopper.DOES IT WORK?One study has evaluated the effects of spa baths on anxiety. Fourteenadults with a range of anxiety disorders each spent 15 minutes in anindividual spa bath. Results showed that anxiety was lower after thebath than before the bath. However, the study did not test how longthe results lasted.GADOne study was carried out in adults with GAD. It compared eight weeksof treatment with spa baths, water massage and spa showers with anantidepressant (see page 14). The study found the spa treatment wasbetter than the drug in reducing anxiety symptoms.Other anxiety disordersThere is no evidence on whether water-based treatments workspecifically for PTSD, Social Phobia, Panic Disorder, Specific Phobiasor OCD.ARE THERE ANY RISKS?There are no known risks.RECOMMENDATIONThere is not enough good evidence to say whether water-basedtreatments work.YogaOur ratingOur ratingGAD Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia?PTSD and ASD? Specific Phobias ?Social Phobia? OCD ?WHAT IS IT?Yoga is an ancient part of Indian culture. Most yoga practised inWestern countries is Hatha yoga. This type of yoga exercises thebody and mind using physical postures, breathing techniques andmeditation.HOW IS IT MEANT TO WORK?Yoga is thought to reduce stress and improve relaxation. It may alsoincrease feelings of mastery from learning difficult postures or improvebody image from greater bodily awareness and control. It may also helpto distract people from negative thoughts.DOES IT WORK?GADFour studies compared yoga with no treatment or other treatmentsin people with GAD. These used a variety of types of yoga. Overall,the results were positive. Yoga produced more improvement than notreatment. However, the studies were not well-designed, making itdifficult to form conclusions.OCDOne study compared yoga with mindfulness meditation (MBSR, seepage 33) and relaxation in 22 people. Both groups had one-hourweekly treatments with an instructor and did daily practice. After threemonths, the people in the yoga group had lower anxiety symptomsthan the people in the meditation group.Other anxiety disordersThere is no evidence on whether yoga works for PTSD, Social Phobia,Panic Disorder or Specific Phobias.ARE THERE ANY RISKS?To reduce the risk of injury, yoga should be practised in a class with aqualified instructor.RECOMMENDATIONYoga may be helpful for GAD, but more good-quality research isneeded.58