FaReWell Depression - Facial Exercise Program to Treat Depression

Depression Clinical Trial

Official title: Facial Rehabilitation of Wellbeing in Depression: a Randomized Controled Trial of a Facial Physiotherapeutic Exercise Program in the Treatment of Depression

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

This study investigates if a physiotherapeutic exercise program designed to relax facial muscles associated with the expression of negative emotions and to activate and strengthen facial muscles associated with the expression of positive emotions can reduce the symptoms of depression and improve wellbeing and quality of life in the affected patients.

Clinical Trial Description

Activity of the facial musculature expresses emotions, but also generates proprioceptive signals to the emotional brain that maintain and reinforce the expressed emotions. This has been described by Charles Darwin and William James in the facial feedback hypothesis.

Studies have shown that interruption of facial feedback by the injection of botulinum toxin into the corrugator and procerus muscles, which express negative emotions like sadness, anger, and fear, can reduce the symptoms of depression.

In the present study we investigate, if similar effects can be achieved by a relaxing massage of these and other muscles that are associated with the expression of negative emotions and if strengthening exercises of muscles that express positive emotions, the zygomaticus and orbicularis oculi muscles, can contribute to the rehabilitation of positive emotionality in depression. After instruction by a physiotherapist, participants will practice the exercises daily for 15 minutes. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Depression
• Depressive Disorder

• NCT number: NCT03983291
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Zentrum für Angst und Depressionsbehandlung Zürich
• Contact: Patricia Waldvogel, PhD
• Phone: +41 44 3866600
• Email: PWaldvogel@zadz.ch
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 1, 2019
• Completion date: August 1, 2024