There have been several randomised controlled trials of float therapy that have proven to show mixed results. Many trials also have a low number of participants, meaning that their results may not be accurately representative of a wider population. Here are some examples of trials that have employed float therapy.


1. > Loose LF, Manuel J, Karst M, Schmidt LK, Beissner F. Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(5):e219627. Published 2021 May 3. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.9627

This trial found that float therapy had a positive short-term impact on patients, but did not appear to have any meaningful long-term impacts. The short term group reported significant improvements in pain intensity, relaxation, anxiety and pain areas and also the widespreadness of the pain. However, the authors note that similar changes were observed in the placebo group.

It should also be noted that this trial had a total of 99 patients with 81% of the participants being women, introducing a bias into the study. Some of the specified improvements during the study are rather vague was well, as the self-reported measurement of 'rexalation' varies with each participant.

2. > Kjellgren A, Westman J. Beneficial effects of treatment with sensory isolation in flotation-tank as a preventive health-care intervention - a randomized controlled pilot trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014;14:417. Published 2014 Oct 25. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-417

This trial found that float therapy had a significant improvement on stress, depression, anxiety and worst pain compared to the control group. They also indicated that there is a significant correlation between mindfulness in daily life and a degree of 'altered state of consciousness' during the relaxation in the floating tank. They conclude that 'flotation-REST' has beneficial effects on relatively healthy participants.

It should be noted that potential biases may have formulated during this study as the participants were selected through advertisements through intranet correspondence of companies relevant in the floatation therapy business, company magazine and emails, offering all employees an opportunity to participate in the healthcare program. Naturally, these employees would have an incentive to provide a positive result to the researchers during the study, compared to a more randomised subset of the population. Data from the study was also managed by the floatation centre, which may have had a finanical incentive being a provider of flotation therapy, to report more positive results.

As with the previous study, it is difficult to accurately measure stress of anxiety in a way that can be consistent throughout studies, as each study has their own interpration on the measurement of stress, as well as the participants. The mention of 'altered state of consciousness' as the authors state, is also rather vague and may not accurately reflect the readers interpreation.

3. > Garland MM, Wilson R, Thompson WK, et al. A randomized controlled safety and feasibility trial of floatation-rest in anxious and depressed individuals. medRxiv. January 1, 2023. Accessed June 9, 2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.05.27.23290633v1.

This trial found that in anxious and depressed individuals, floatation therapy was safe, well-tolerated and associated with acute anxiolysis (inhibition of anxiety). However, the authors note that there is not yet sufficient evidence of the feasability of the method as a repeated intervention. They state that further research is warranted with larger randomized control trials, to evaluate markers of clinical efficacy. 

These are just a few examples of randomised controlled trials of floatation therapy, which have shown to have mixed results as you can see in the samples that I have provided above.
Whilst there does appear to be certain positive short-term benefits with floatation therapy, there is little evidence to the fact of flotation therapy being a positive long-term intervention for patients with depressive and anxiety disorders.

It is important that you weigh the results of these trials and understand the goals of each studies, so that you can make your own decision during your journey of flotation therapy.

If you want to know more about flotation therapy, please do not hesitate to ask.
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