42 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k m a r c h / a p r i l 2 0 1 6
person feels in the moment (state anxiety),
but also over time as a general attitude (trait
anxiety). Sample questions look like this:
For "state" anxiety:
1 = not at all; 2 = somewhat;
3 = moderately so; 4 = almost always
A. I feel at ease…..1 2 3 4
B. I feel upset…....1 2 3 4
For "trait" anxiety:
1 = almost never; 2 = sometimes;
3 = often; 4 = almost always
A. I am a steady person…...1 2 3 4
B. I lack self-confidence…..1 2 3 4
Other anxiety scales are offered in the
box at left.
TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY
Conventional treatment for anxiety
disorders typically involves some
combination of talk therapy and medication.
Panic disorder is often treated with beta-
blockers to manage heart symptoms.
Specific phobias may be treated through
controlled exposure to the trigger stimuli.
Drugs for anxiety disorders are usually
anxiolytics and/or antidepressants. Common
antidepressants used in this context include
Celexa, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft. Anti-
anxiety drugs are usually benzodiazepines,
including Ativan, Valium, and Xanax.
The type of talk therapy used for
general anxiety disorder and social phobia
disorder (by far the most common types
of anxiety disorders) is usually some
version of cognitive-behavioral therapy
(CBT). This is an approach to mental
health that focuses on changing patterns
in thinking and behaviors to improve
general coping skills and relationships.
MASSAGE THERAPY APPEARS
TO BE USEFUL FOR ANXIETY
We have known for some time that massage
therapy appears to have a consistently
positive impact on anxiety for people in
many situations. Research on anxiety related
Additional Anxiety Scales
• Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI):
https://dih.wiki.otago.ac.nz/images/8/80/Beck.pdf
• Clinically Useful Anxiety Outcome
Scale (CUXOS): www.outcometracker.
org/scales_anxiety.php
• Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale:
http://dcf.psychiatry.ufl.edu/files/2011/05/
HAMILTON-ANXIETY.pdf
• Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS):
www.psychology-tools.com/zung-anxiety-scale/
Resources
Anxiety and Depression Association of America. "DSM-5: Changes to
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders." Accessed
February 2016. www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/DSM-5-changes.
Brownback, Mason & Associates, P.C. "10 Principles of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT)." Accessed February 2016.
www.brownbackmason.com/articles/10-principles-of-cognitive-
behavioral-therapy-cbt.
Julian, L. "Measures of Anxiety." Arthritis Care and Research (Hoboken) 63,
Supplement S11. (November 2011). doi:10.1002/acr.20561. Accessed
February 2016. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3879951/.
Moyer, C. A. "Affective Massage Therapy." International Journal of
Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork 1, no. 2 (2008): 3–5.
ScienceDaily. "New Scale to Measure Anxiety Outcomes
Developed." Accessed February 2016. www.sciencedaily.com/
releases/2010/03/100309091452.htm.
Zimmerman, M. "Outcome Tracker." Accessed February 2016.
www.outcometracker.org/faqs.php.
