title: [The effectiveness of therapeutic touch on pain, depression and sleep in patients with chronic pain: clinical trial].
abstract: This research aimed to check the effectiveness of Therapeutic Touch on decreased pain intensity, depression self-assessment scores and improved sleep quality. A clinical before-after trial is presented. The study was carried out at a Basic Health Unit in Fernandópolis, SP-Brazil, involving 30 elderly patients with chronic non-oncologic pain who received 8 sessions of Therapeutic Touch in accordance with the Krieger-Kunz method. The Visual Analogue Scale for pain was applied before and after each session, and Beck Depression Inventory and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index before the first and after the last session. Data analysis showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in pain intensity, depression self-assessment scores and the sleep quality index. It is concluded that the Therapeutic Touch was effective to decrease pain intensity and depressive attitudes and symptoms, as well as to improve sleep quality.
authors.affiliation: Curso de Medicina da Universidade Camilo Castelo Branco, Campus Fernandópolis, Fernandópolis, SP, Brasil. estefani@unicastelo.br
authors.forename: Ilda Estefani Ribeiro
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Marta
authors.forename: Sueli Santiago
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Baldan
authors.forename: Ani Fabiana
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Berton
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavam
authors.forename: Maria Júlia Paes
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications; D059408:Pain Management; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019124:Therapeutic Touch