The Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) is excited to announce the PLoS One publication of the first float study ever conducted in patients suffering from both anxiety and depression, published in February 2018.

This open-label trial from Dr. Justin Feinstein’s Float Clinic and Research Center at LIBR in 50 patients, provides an initial proof-of-principle study showing that one hour of float therapy can provide significant short-term relief from symptoms of stress and anxiety across a range of different conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

More than resolving symptoms of mental illness, the experience greatly enhanced mental wellness, leaving patients in a peaceful, serene state afterwards. This mood-enhancing effect of floatation was especially notable given that most of the patients had co-morbid depression.

It is important to emphasize that this was an open-label study examining the short-term effects of floating. LIBR is now tracking the time course of these effects as well as studying whether or not there is evidence for long-term benefit following repeated practice. 

The entire study can be found at FloatTucson.com/links. Kalyn Wolf, owner of Cloud Nine Flotation, at 2118 S. Avenida Planeta, Tucson, has been guiding people through floating since 1986. For more information, call 520-668-4017 or email [email protected].