The Feasibility and Examination of the Effects of Floatation-based REST on a Community Sample With PTSD

NCT ID: NCT04368689

Last Updated: 2026-01-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-06-18
• Study Completion Date: 2027-12-31

Brief Summary

This project is being done to explore the effects floating has on individuals who have a history of trauma with stress related symptoms.

Detailed Description

This pilot study looks to further the current floatation-based REST literature by exploring the therapy's effectiveness within a community-based sample of adults with PTSD. This type of sample allows the study the opportunity to recruit both veteran and civilian subjects, two populations that can suffer from this clinical diagnosis and stand to benefit from this therapy. This study will:

1. Evaluate the psychological effects of floating for a clinical, community sample with PTSD.

2. Evaluate the physiological effects of floating for a clinical, community sample with PTSD.

3. Evaluate the subjective effects of floating for a clinical, community sample with PTSD.

Conditions

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Floating

Participants have 3 Floatation sessions that last up to 90 minutes. Each spaced about a week apart.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Floatation-based reduced environmental stimulation therapy

Intervention Type: OTHER

Completion of 3 float session that can last for up to 90 minutes each session, each spaced approximately one week apart

Interventions

Floatation-based reduced environmental stimulation therapy

Completion of 3 float session that can last for up to 90 minutes each session, each spaced approximately one week apart

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Has posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as confirmed by the PCL-5
• 18-60 years of age

Exclusion Criteria

• History of neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, severe traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia)
• Any skin conditions or open wounds that could cause pain when exposed to saltwater
• Has floated previously
• Has Schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders
• Refuses to adhere to the Pre-Float Checklist
• Non-English speaking
• Inability to lay comfortably in a shallow pool of water
• Refuses participation in the floatation-REST sessions
• Refuses to sign the Float Liability Waiver prior to floating
• No Communicable disease (e.g.- HIV, Hepatitis A, B& C, tuberculosis, or measles)
• No psychoactive drugs or laxatives within the past week from scheduled float. Psychoactive drugs include, but are not limited to: methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, peyote, phencyclidine, ketamine).No recreational drug use (e.g.tetrahydrocannabinol,abuse of prescription medicine) day before or day of study visit. No antihistamine that causes drowsiness and no alcohol the day of the float sessions.
• Lack of control of bodily functions prior to scheduled float
• Fresh tattoos that would inhibit ability to float (consult with tattoo artist)
• Colored/dyed hair less than one week old from scheduled float
• Body tanning/spay/paint less than one week old from scheduled float
• Active suicidal ideation

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Medical College of Wisconsin

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Terri deRoon Cassini

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Terri deRoon-Cassini, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Medical College of Wisconsin

Locations

Medical College of Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Countries

United States

References

Feinstein JS, Khalsa SS, Yeh HW, Wohlrab C, Simmons WK, Stein MB, Paulus MP. Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST. PLoS One. 2018 Feb 2;13(2):e0190292. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190292. eCollection 2018.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 29394251 (View on PubMed)

Feinstein JS, Khalsa SS, Yeh H, Al Zoubi O, Arevian AC, Wohlrab C, Pantino MK, Cartmell LJ, Simmons WK, Stein MB, Paulus MP. The Elicitation of Relaxation and Interoceptive Awareness Using Floatation Therapy in Individuals With High Anxiety Sensitivity. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2018 Jun;3(6):555-562. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2018.02.005. Epub 2018 Mar 9.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 29656950 (View on PubMed)

Fine TH, Turner JW Jr. The effect of brief restricted environmental stimulation therapy in the treatment of essential hypertension. Behav Res Ther. 1982;20(6):567-70. doi: 10.1016/0005-7967(82)90035-3. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 7159352 (View on PubMed)

Forgays, D. G., & Belinson, M. J. (1986). Is flotation isolation a relaxing environment?. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 6(1), 19-34.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Jacobs GD, Heilbronner RL, Stanley JM. The effects of short term flotation REST on relaxation: a controlled study. Health Psychol. 1984;3(2):99-112. doi: 10.1037//0278-6133.3.2.99.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 6399246 (View on PubMed)

Kjellgren A, Sundequist U, Norlander T, Archer T. Effects of flotation-REST on muscle tension pain. Pain Res Manag. 2001 Winter;6(4):181-9. doi: 10.1155/2001/768501.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 11854763 (View on PubMed)

Koula, G. M., Kemp, J. C., Keane, K. M., & Belden, A. D. (1990). Replication of a clinical outcome study on a hospital-based stress management and behavioral medicine program utilizing flotation REST and biofeedback. In Restricted Environmental Stimulation (pp. 202-209). Springer, New York.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Lilly, J.C. & Shurley, J.T. (1961).

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

O'Leary, D. S., & Heilbronner, R. L. (1990). Flotation REST and information processing: A reaction time study. In Restricted Environmental Stimulation (pp. 113-124). Springer New York.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Pudvah, M. B., & Rzewnicki, R. (1990). Six months in the tank: Long-term effects of flotation isolation on state anxiety, hostility, and depression. Restricted Environmental Stimulation: Theoretical and empirical developments in flotation REST, 169-173.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Schulz P, Kaspar CH. Neuroendocrine and psychological effects of restricted environmental stimulation technique in a flotation tank. Biol Psychol. 1994 Mar;37(2):161-75. doi: 10.1016/0301-0511(94)90029-9.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 8003591 (View on PubMed)

Shurley, J. T. (1960). Profound experimental sensory isolation. American Journal of Psychiatry, 117(6), 539-545.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Turner Jr, J., Gerard, W., Hyland, J., Nieland, P., & Fine, T. (1993). Effects of wet and dry flotation REST on blood pressure and plasma cortisol. In Clinical and Experimental Restricted Environmental Stimulation (pp. 239-247). Springer New York.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Other Identifiers

PRO00032660

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id