Therapeutic Touch and Acupressure on Depressive Symptoms

NCT07532512 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: OsmaniyeKAU-SBF-CA-03
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 156
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Therapeutic touch intervention Participants in the therapeutic touch group received eight sessions over four weeks (two sessions per week), with each session lasting approximately 20 minutes. The intervention was conducted by a researcher trained in therapeutic touch following a standardized protocol. The session began with a centering phase lasting approximately 2-3 minutes, during which the practitioner focused attention through controlled breathing and mental concentration. This was followed by an energy field assessment lasting approximately 5-7 minutes, during which the practitioner held the hands 5-10 cm above the body without direct contact and slowly moved from the head toward the feet to assess the energy field. The final phase consisted of energy balancing lasting approximately 10-12 minutes, during which slow and rhythmic hand movements were used to promote balance in the participant's energy field. Acupressure intervention Participants in the acupressure group also received eight sessions over four weeks (two sessions per week). During each session, pressure was applied to three acupressure points for two minutes each, resulting in a total active stimulation time of six minutes. Including short preparation and resting periods before and after the intervention, the total session duration was approximately ten minutes. The acupressure points used in this study were Yintang (EX-HN3), Shenmen (HT7), and Neiguan (PC6). Yintang is located on the midline between the medial ends of the eyebrows and is commonly used for calming and stress reduction. Shenmen (HT7) is located on the inner wrist crease on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon and is associated with emotional regulation. Neiguan (PC6) is located on the inner forearm approximately three fingerbreadths proximal to the wrist crease between the palmaris longus and flexor carpiradialis tendons and is associated with regulation of the autonomic nervous system. Pressure was applied using the thumb with mild-to-moderate intensity in rhythmic circular movements. HT7 and PC6 points were stimulated bilaterally, whereas Yintang was stimulated unilaterally. If a participant reported discomfort during the procedure, the pressure intensity was reduced.

Conditions

Depressive Symptoms Mild to Moderate in Severity

Keywords

acupressure; depression; disaster; complementary therapies; menopause; therapeutic touch

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Conclusion

  The primary outcome measure of this study is the change in depressive symptom levels in postmenopausal women. Depressive symptoms will be assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), a 21-item self-report scale in which each item is scored from 0 to 3. Total scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. A BDI score of 17 or higher will be considered indicative of clinically significant depressive symptoms. Assessments will be performed for all participants at baseline before the intervention (pretest) and again at the end of the 4-week intervention period (posttest). Participants in the therapeutic touch group will receive 8 sessions of therapeutic touch, administered twice weekly for 4 weeks. Participants in the acupressure group will receive 8 sessions of acupressure, also administered twice weekly for 4 weeks. Participants in the control group will not receive any intervention and will only undergo pretest and posttest assessments

  From baseline to 4 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Therapeutic touch intervention

OTHER

Other: Therapeutic touch intervention

Acupressure intervention

OTHER

Other: Acupressure intervention

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Therapeutic touch intervention OTHER

Participants in the therapeutic touch group received eight sessions over four weeks (two sessions per week), with each session lasting approximately 20 minutes. The intervention was conducted by a researcher trained in therapeutic touch following a standardized protocol. The session began with a centering phase lasting approximately 2-3 minutes, during which the practitioner focused attention through controlled breathing and mental concentration. This was followed by an energy field assessment lasting approximately 5-7 minutes, during which the practitioner held the hands 5-10 cm above the body without direct contact and slowly moved from the head toward the feet to assess the energy field. The final phase consisted of energy balancing lasting approximately 10-12 minutes, during which slow and rhythmic hand movements were used to promote balance in the participant's energy field.

Therapeutic touch intervention

Acupressure intervention OTHER

Participants in the therapeutic touch group received eight sessions over four weeks (two sessions per week), with each session lasting approximately 20 minutes. The intervention was conducted by a researcher trained in therapeutic touch following a standardized protocol. The session began with a centering phase lasting approximately 2-3 minutes, during which the practitioner focused attention through controlled breathing and mental concentration. This was followed by an energy field assessment lasting approximately 5-7 minutes, during which the practitioner held the hands 5-10 cm above the body without direct contact and slowly moved from the head toward the feet to assess the energy field. The final phase consisted of energy balancing lasting approximately 10-12 minutes, during which slow and rhythmic hand movements were used to promote balance in the participant's energy field.

Acupressure intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 45 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Female participants aged 45 to 65 years
• Postmenopausal women
• Able to understand and respond to the data collection tools
• Willing to participate voluntarily
• Able to provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Younger than 45 years or older than 65 years
• Receiving hormone replacement therapy
• Having any psychiatric diagnosis
• Using psychiatric medication
• Having any condition that impairs the ability to understand or respond to the study questionnaires
• Refusing to participate in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Osmaniye Korkut Ata University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Osmaniye Korkut Ata University

Osmaniye, 80000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Model Details: This study was a randomized controlled experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group design conducted to evaluate the effects of therapeutic touch and acupressure on depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 30, 2026
• First Posted: April 16, 2026
• Study Start: November 3, 2025
• Primary Completion: January 10, 2026
• Study Completion: January 30, 2026
• Last Updated: April 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)