Abstract.

The overarching purpose of the current thesis was to assess the long term effects of a documented treatment program involving flotation-REST for the experience of pain, from the point of view of variables connected with Melzack´s neuromatrix theory, and to examine the extent of a potential attention-placebo effect in connection with flotation-REST.

Two studies were conducted. The first (Paper I) aimed to investigate long-term effects of flotation-REST four months after treatment. Seventy patients participated, diagnosed as having stress-related pain. Participants were randomly assigned in equal numbers to either a control group or a flotation-REST group and participated in a total of twelve flotation REST or control sessions. Results indicated that pain areas, stress, anxiety and depression decreased, while sleep quality, optimism, and prolactin increased. Positive effects generally maintained four months after treatment. The second (Paper II) examined the potential effects of attention-placebo on flotation tank therapy. Thirty-two patients who were diagnosed as having stress-related muscular pain was treated with flotation- REST for a period of six weeks. Half of the patients were also given attention for a period of 12 weeks, while the remainder received such attention for 6 weeks. Participants in both groups exhibited lowered blood pressure, reduced pain, anxiety, depression, stress, and negative affectivity, as well as increased optimism, energy, and positive affectivity.

It was therefore concluded that flotation tank therapy is an effective method for the treatment of stress-related pain.