Touch Research

The following is an abbreviation from The Touch Research Institute website.
AGGRESSION: lower anxiety levels.
ADDICTIONS: cocaine and exposed HIV newborns had fewer postnatal complications, showed increased weight gain and less stress behaviors.
ANOREXIA: reduced anxiety and depressed mood.
ASTHMA: decreased autoimmune problems, increased peak airflow, improved pulmonary function, less anxious, reduced stress, children and parents’ anxiety decreased.
ARTHRITIS: mild to moderate Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis pain decreased in both incidence and severity, less morning stiffness, less anxiety and stress.
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER: teachers observed less fidgeting, less hyperactivity, more time on task behavior and children felt happier.
AUTISTIC: touch sensitivity, attention to sounds and off- task classroom behavior decreased, relatedness to teachers and social relatedness behavior during play increased, and they had fewer sleep problems.
BACK PAIN: lessened lower back pain, depression and anxiety and improved sleep, improved serotonin and dopamine levels.
BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS: children had more on-task behavior, less solitary play and less aggression. BULIMIA: improved body image, decreased depression, anxiety and stress levels, and increased dopamine and serotonin levels.
BREAST CANCER: reduced anxiety and depression and improved immune function, including natural killer cell numbers.
BURNS: touch was given to body parts that were not affected, reduced distress during burn treatments (skin brushing) reduced: itching, pain, depression, anger, anxiety and improved mood immediately.
CANCER: Pediatric Oncology patients experienced less distress about pain associated with medical procedures and chemotherapy, less tactile defensive and less depressed, and both parents and children were less anxious.
CEREBRAL PALSY: reduced spasticity, gain more muscle flexibility, motor function and more positive social interaction.
CYSTIC FIBROSIS: less anxious, mood and peak airflow readings improved.
DEPRESSION: children and adolescents hospitalized for depression or adjustment disorder self reported less depression, decreased anxiety like behavior, and had lower anxiety levels based on behavior observation.
DEPRESSED TEENAGE MOTHERS: were less depressed, less anxious, by own report and on behavior observations, stress levels were lower and serotonin levels were higher.
DERMATITIS: affect and activity levels improved, skin condition improved including less redness, lichenification, excoriation, and pruritis. Parent's anxiety also decreased.
DIABETES: children's glucose levels decreased to the normal range, increased dietary compliance, parents’ and children’s anxiety and depression levels decreased.
DOWN SYNDROME: Infants improved in muscle tone and in performance on motor tasks.
ELDERLY RETIRED VOLUNTEERS…EFFECTS WERE STRONGER GIVING MASSAGE THAN RECEIVING MASSAGE: they reported less anxiety and fewer depressive symptoms and an improved mood after giving touch, pulse decreased, cortisol (stress) levels decreased, self-esteem increased, and life style improved.
HIV IN ADOLESCENTS an increase in Natural Killer Cells (number and activity) CD4 cells and CD4/CD8 ratio increased.
HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS: Children in hospitals were found to be touched deprived.
IMMUNE SYSTEM: enhanced immune function e.g., increased natural killer cells in HIV and in cancer suggesting positive effects on the immune system.
LEARNING DISABILITIES: enhanced alertness and performance.
LEUKEMIA: depressed mood decreased, all blood count measures improved, including white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count and hemoglobin level.
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT: pre-term newborns gained 47% more weight, became more socially responsive, greater increase in vagal tone, and increase in insulin (food absorption hormone).
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: decreased anxiety and depressed mood, improved self-esteem, body image, and social functioning.
PAIN: less pain in fibromyalgia, Juvenile Arthritis.