Swedish massage therapy for generalized anxiety disorder

This research study is testing whether Swedish massage therapy can help people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)—a condition where people feel persistent, excessive worry. Researchers want to see if regular massage sessions can reduce anxiety symptoms and change how the brain responds to stressful situations. They'll also use brain imaging to understand how the treatment works.

While therapy and medication help many people with anxiety, not everyone responds well or wants to take medication. This study explores whether this treatment might be an effective, non-medication option for managing anxiety and could help researchers understand how touch-based therapies affect the brain.