Therapeutic Touch and Acupressure on Depressive Symptoms (Postmenopausal)

Effects of Therapeutic Touch and Acupressure on Depressive Symptoms Among Postmenopausal Women

Therapeutic touch intervention Participants in the therapeutic touch group received eight sessions over four weeks (two sessions per week), with each session lasting approximately 20 minutes. The intervention was conducted by a researcher trained in therapeutic touch following a standardized protocol.

The session began with a centering phase lasting approximately 2-3 minutes, during which the practitioner focused attention through controlled breathing and mental concentration. This was followed by an energy field assessment lasting approximately 5-7 minutes, during which the practitioner held the hands 5-10 cm above the body without direct contact and slowly moved from the head toward the feet to assess the energy field. The final phase consisted of energy balancing lasting approximately 10-12 minutes, during which slow and rhythmic hand movements were used to promote balance in the participant's energy field. Acupressure intervention Participants in the acupressure group also received eight sessions over four weeks (two sessions per week). During each session, pressure was applied to three acupressure points for two minutes each, resulting in a total active stimulation time of six minutes. Including short preparation and resting periods before and after the intervention, the total session duration was approximately ten minutes. The acupressure points used in this study were Yintang (EX-HN3), Shenmen (HT7), and Neiguan (PC6). Yintang is located on the midline between the medial ends of the eyebrows and is commonly used for calming and stress reduction. Shenmen (HT7) is located on the inner wrist crease on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon and is associated with emotional regulation. Neiguan (PC6) is located on the inner forearm approximately three fingerbreadths proximal to the wrist crease between the palmaris longus and flexor carpiradialis tendons and is associated with regulation of the autonomic nervous system. Pressure was applied using the thumb with mild-to-moderate intensity in rhythmic circular movements. HT7 and PC6 points were stimulated bilaterally, whereas Yintang was stimulated unilaterally. If a participant reported discomfort during the procedure, the pressure intensity was reduced.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depressive Symptoms Mild to Moderate in Severity
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Therapeutic touch intervention; Other: Acupressure intervention

Detailed Description

Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstrual bleeding as a natural consequence of the reproductive period and is confirmed after 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea. During this process, the decline in estrogen and progesterone levels leads not only to vasomotor and somatic symptoms but also to psychological changes. It has been reported that the prevalence of depressive symptoms increases particularly during the postmenopausal period, with biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors playing a significant role in this process. Depressive symptoms observed during the postmenopausal period are considered a public health problem because they negatively affect women's quality of life, social functioning, and overall health status. Hormonal fluctuations experienced during this period may influence the central nervous system, and alterations in serotonergic and noradrenergic neurotransmitter systems may contribute to the development of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, differences in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which plays a central role in regulating the stress response, may also contribute to the development of these symptoms.

In addition to individual biological and psychosocial factors, traumatic life events such as natural disasters can profoundly affect mental health. Sudden and destructive disasters such as earthquakes may increase the risk of depression by causing multidimensional consequences including loss, displacement, economic hardship, and the weakening of social support systems. Women's experiences of disasters may vary depending on their stage of life. Menopause represents a period during which women's vulnerability during disasters may increase.

Although pharmacological treatments are effective in the management of depression, interest in complementary and holistic approaches has increased due to potential side effects, the need for long-term use, and some women's reluctance to use medication. In this context, non-pharmacological interventions such as therapeutic touch and acupressure have gained attention. Therapeutic touch is a holistic nursing intervention that aims to balance an individual's energy field and enhance the relaxation response. Touch has been suggested to increase oxytocin release, reduce sympathetic nervous system activity, and support parasympathetic activation. Through these physiological mechanisms, stress levels may decrease and psychological well-being may be improved.

Acupressure, on the other hand, is a method based on traditional Chinese medicine that aims to regulate energy flow through the application of pressure to specific meridian points. From a neurophysiological perspective, acupressure may increase endorphin release and produce beneficial effects on autonomic nervous system balance. These effects may play a potential role in alleviating depressive symptoms, particularly in conditions accompanied by traumatic stress.

Previous studies have examined the effects of therapeutic touch and acupressure on anxiety, pain, and sleep quality, and their effects on depressive symptoms among women who have experienced earthquakes have also been investigated. However, no studies have been found examining the effects of these interventions on depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women. Evaluating safe, low-cost, and easily applicable holistic interventions in the post-disaster period is important for community-based mental health services. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effects of therapeutic touch and acupressure on depressive symptoms among postmenopausal women who experienced an earthquake.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 156
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Osmaniye, Turkey (Türkiye), 80000
    • Osmaniye Korkut Ata University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female participants aged 45 to 65 years
• Postmenopausal women
• Able to understand and respond to the data collection tools
• Willing to participate voluntarily
• Able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Younger than 45 years or older than 65 years
• Receiving hormone replacement therapy
• Having any psychiatric diagnosis
• Using psychiatric medication
• Having any condition that impairs the ability to understand or respond to the study questionnaires
• Refusing to participate in the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control group
Other: Therapeutic touch intervention	Other: Therapeutic touch intervention; Participants in the therapeutic touch group received eight sessions over four weeks (two sessions per week), with each session lasting approximately 20 minutes. The intervention was conducted by a researcher trained in therapeutic touch following a standardized protocol. The session began with a centering phase lasting approximately 2-3 minutes, during which the practitioner focused attention through controlled breathing and mental concentration. This was followed by an energy field assessment lasting approximately 5-7 minutes, during which the practitioner held the hands 5-10 cm above the body without direct contact and slowly moved from the head toward the feet to assess the energy field. The final phase consisted of energy balancing lasting approximately 10-12 minutes, during which slow and rhythmic hand movements were used to promote balance in the participant's energy field.
Other: Acupressure intervention	Other: Acupressure intervention; Participants in the therapeutic touch group received eight sessions over four weeks (two sessions per week), with each session lasting approximately 20 minutes. The intervention was conducted by a researcher trained in therapeutic touch following a standardized protocol. The session began with a centering phase lasting approximately 2-3 minutes, during which the practitioner focused attention through controlled breathing and mental concentration. This was followed by an energy field assessment lasting approximately 5-7 minutes, during which the practitioner held the hands 5-10 cm above the body without direct contact and slowly moved from the head toward the feet to assess the energy field. The final phase consisted of energy balancing lasting approximately 10-12 minutes, during which slow and rhythmic hand movements were used to promote balance in the participant's energy field.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Conclusion	The primary outcome measure of this study is the change in depressive symptom levels in postmenopausal women. Depressive symptoms will be assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), a 21-item self-report scale in which each item is scored from 0 to 3. Total scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. A BDI score of 17 or higher will be considered indicative of clinically significant depressive symptoms. Assessments will be performed for all participants at baseline before the intervention (pretest) and again at the end of the 4-week intervention period (posttest). Participants in the therapeutic touch group will receive 8 sessions of therapeutic touch, administered twice weekly for 4 weeks. Participants in the acupressure group will receive 8 sessions of acupressure, also administered twice weekly for 4 weeks. Participants in the control group will not receive any intervention and will only undergo pretest and posttest assessments	From baseline to 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Osmaniye Korkut Ata University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 3, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 10, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): January 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 30, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 13, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 20, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 15, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: menopause; depression; complementary therapies; acupressure; disaster; therapeutic touch
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Depression
• Other Study ID Numbers: OsmaniyeKAU-SBF-CA-03

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No