Bias control in bodywork therapies: a review of methodological issues

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dc.contributor.authorMehling, Wolf E.
dc.contributor.authorDi Blasi, Zelda
dc.contributor.authorHecht, Frederick
dc.date.accessioned2011-03-16T10:14:56Z
dc.date.available2011-03-16T10:14:56Z
dc.date.issued2005-04
dc.date.updated2011-03-14T19:28:21Z
dc.description.abstractOBJECTIVE: To review and summarize the methodological challenges in clinical trials of bodywork or handson mind-body therapies such as Feldenkrais Method, Alexander Technique, Trager Work, Eutony, Body Awareness Therapy, Breath Therapy, and Rolfing, and to discuss ways these challenges can be addressed. DESIGN: Review and commentary. METHODS: Search of databases PubMed and EMBASE and screening of bibliographies. Published clinical studies were included if they used individual hands-on approaches and a focus on body awareness, and were not based on technical devices. RESULTS: Of the 53 studies identified, 20 fulfilled inclusion criteria. No studies blinded subject to the treatment being given, but 5 used an alternative treatment and blinded participants to differential investigator expectations of efficacy. No study used a credible placebo intervention. No studies reported measures of patient expectations. Patient expectations have been measured in studies of other modalities but not of hands-on mind-body therapies. Options are presented for minimizing investigator and therapist bias and bias from differential patient expectations, and for maintaining some control for nonspecific treatment effects. Practical issues with recruitment and attrition resulting from volunteer bias are addressed. CONCLUSIONS: Rigorous clinical trials of hands-on complementary and alternative therapy interventions are scarce, needed, and feasible. Difficulties with blinding, placebo, and recruitment can be systematically addressed by various methods that minimize the respective biases. The methods suggested here may enhance the rigor of further explanatory trials.en
dc.description.statusPeer revieweden
dc.description.versionPublished Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationWolf E. Mehling, Zelda DiBlasi, Frederick Hecht. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. April 2005, 11(2): 333-342. doi:10.1089/acm.2005.11.333en
dc.identifier.doi10.1089/acm.2005.11.333
dc.identifier.endpage342en
dc.identifier.issued2en
dc.identifier.journaltitleJournal of Alternative and Complementary Medicineen
dc.identifier.startpage333en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/253
dc.identifier.volume11en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherMary Ann Liebert Inc.en
dc.rightsThis is a copy of an article published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine © 2005 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.; Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine is available online at: http://www.liebertonline.com.en
dc.subjectTreatment outcomeen
dc.subjectControl groupsen
dc.subjectPatient selectionen
dc.subjectVolunteer biasen
dc.subject.lcshAlternative medicineen
dc.subject.lcshPlacebos (Medicine)en
dc.subject.lcshMind and body therapiesen
dc.titleBias control in bodywork therapies: a review of methodological issuesen
dc.typeArticle (peer-reviewed)en
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