Body-mind-spirit group therapy for Chinese medicine stagnation syndrome-RCT with self-report and physiological measures.

Abstract

Background Stagnation syndrome, a diagnostic entity in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is characterized by mind-body obstruction-like symptoms. Although TCM has long-established symptom-relief treatments, a comprehensive mind-body intervention was called for. Purpose The study evaluated the efficacy of a six-session body-mind-spirit (BMS) group therapy for persons with stagnation syndrome. Method A 2-arm randomized controlled trial design was adopted. The control group received a parallel general TCM instruction course. Both groups completed a pretest, posttest, and 2-month follow-up assessment. The measures included self-report scales on stagnation, depression, anxiety, physical distress, daily functioning, and positive and negative affect; the other measure was of salivary cortisol, a biological marker of stress. Results Data on 111 adults with stagnation syndrome were included in the analysis. Completion rates were high (over 87%) for both the intervention and control groups. Regarding within-group effects, the intervention group showed significant improvements from baseline in all 11 measures in both the posttest and 2-month follow-up assessment (Cohen’s d ranging from 0.78 to 0.90 for stagnation). The control group showed significant improvements in two measures in the posttest and in eight measures in the 2-month follow-up assessment (Cohen’s d ranging from 0.19 to 0.40 for stagnation). In interaction time x group effects, the intervention group showed significant improvements in nine measures in the posttest and in three measures in the 2-month follow-up assessment (eta-squared = 0.12 and 0.02, respectively, for stagnation). Conclusions Overall, the findings indicate that our brief BMS group therapy intervention for stagnation syndrome is efficacious. Moreover, the intervention resulted in a number of substantial improvements in the physical and mental health domains.