Effects of Reflexology on the Pain Intensity among Patients with Depression after Receiving Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Authors: Aliashraf Jodat Maryam, Alilu Leyla, Ahangarzadeh Rezayee Sohila, Gharaaghaji Asl RasoolJournal: Journal of caring sciencesPublished: August 1, 2021DOI: 10.34172/jcs.2021.007

Q2 JournalSJR: 0.3h-index: 22

Strong EvidenceRandomized Controlled Trialn=56 participants

Depression

In Plain Language: reflexology for depression, explained

Introduction: High prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the high effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have made this treatment a useful intervention. Memory impairment, headache, and muscle pain are the most important complications after ECT. This research aimed to determine the effect of reflexology on the headache and muscle pain intensity of patients after receiving ECT. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in Razi teaching hospital of Urmia, Iran. A total of 56 patients with depression receiving ECT were randomly assigned into two equal groups of control (n=28) and intervention (n=28). In the intervention group, reflexology was performed for 20 minutes at reflex points and, in the control group, only the conventional measures were taken. Pain intensity was measured with visual analogue scale (VAS) before and 1, 6, and 24 hours after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 13. Furthermore, chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, and repeated-measures tests were performed. Results: The mean difference in the severity of headache and muscle pain in the intervention group was significantly reduced compared to the control group. Moreover, the results demonstrated a significant difference between the mean headache and muscle pain in the two groups after the intervention. Conclusion: The results of this study showed the positive effect of reflexology on reducing the intensity of pain in patients receiving ECT. Thus, it is recommended that nurses, health care providers, and caregivers use reflexology to reduce pain in patients with depression receiving ECT.

Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about depression

✓Reflexology intervention performed for 20 minutes significantly reduced pain intensity in patients with depression following electroconvulsive therapy compared to conventional measures alone.
✓Pain reduction from reflexology was measurable at multiple time points (1, 6, and 24 hours post-intervention) using the visual analogue scale in the 56-patient randomized controlled trial.
✓Reflexology demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating post-ECT complications including headache and muscle pain, which are among the most common adverse effects of electroconvulsive therapy.

What This Means for You

If you're considering reflexology after electroconvulsive therapy, this study suggests it may help reduce headache and muscle pain, though more research with larger groups would strengthen this finding.

What This Means for Practitioners

This RCT provides evidence that a 20-minute reflexology session can significantly reduce post-ECT pain compared to standard care alone, supporting reflexology as a complementary intervention in psychiatric settings.

Study Design: how this randomised trial was run

Sample Size

56 participants

Read Full Paper↗

Reflexology for depression: common questions

Does reflexology help with depression?

What did this study find?

Reflexology intervention performed for 20 minutes significantly reduced pain intensity in patients with depression following electroconvulsive therapy compared to conventional measures alone. Pain reduction from reflexology was measurable at multiple time points (1, 6, and 24 hours post-intervention) using the visual analogue scale in the 56-patient randomized controlled trial. Reflexology demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating post-ECT complications including headache and muscle pain, which are among the most common adverse effects of electroconvulsive therapy.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence strong. It covers 56 participants. It was published in Journal of caring sciences, a Q2 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.