# Investigating Flotation-REST as a novel technique for reducing anxiety and depression

> **NIH NIH R34** · LAUREATE INSTITUTE FOR BRAIN RESEARCH · 2020 · $208,668

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Anxiety and depression are the two most common psychiatric conditions, affecting over a quarter of the
population, and representing the leading cause of disability, worldwide. Recent meta-analyses and large-scale
clinical trials suggest that only about 50% of patients improve with treatment, with substantially poorer
outcomes and adherence in patients with comorbid anxiety and depression. Given the poor treatment
response and adherence to currently available therapies, it is imperative to explore new ways of helping
patients with anxiety and depression. Floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) is a
relatively unexplored mind-body intervention for naturally reducing physiological stress by systematically
decreasing sensory stimulation of the nervous system through the simple act of floating supine in a pool of
water saturated with Epsom salt. Over the past decade floating has witnessed a rapid rise in popularity, with
hundreds of recreational float centers opening across America. Despite this surge in public interest and
consumption, there has been little research investigating Floatation-REST, especially in clinical populations.
Our laboratory recently completed a pilot study in 30 patients with comorbid anxiety and depression showing
that a single 1-hour float session was capable of inducing a large anxiolytic and antidepressant response
accompanied by a substantial improvement in mood and subjective well-being. Moreover, the effects were not
transient, as the subjects reported feeling sustained benefit over the next 24 hours. This proposal aims to
follow-up on these promising findings by investigating the feasibility, tolerability, and safety of undergoing
multiple sessions of Floatation-REST or an active comparison condition in 75 participants with clinical anxiety
and depression. A subset of these participants will have the opportunity to select their preference with regard
to float duration and frequency, providing important information for optimizing the “dose” in future trials. We
predict that adherence rates will be comparable across all conditions, with low dropout rates (<20%) and
minimal adverse effects, providing initial evidence for feasibility, tolerability, and safety of undergoing multiple
sessions of Floatation-REST and the active comparison condition in this target population. An exploratory aim
examines the magnitude and duration of the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of Floatation-REST at both
short-term (up to 48 hours) and long-term (up to 6 weeks) intervals, providing an initial indication for whether
any beneficial effects are sustained beyond the float experience. The results of this early phase clinical trial will
help optimize the design of a future efficacy study exploring the long-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effects
of Floatation-REST.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9979772
- **Project number:** 5R34AT009889-03
- **Recipient organization:** LAUREATE INSTITUTE FOR BRAIN RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** SAHIB S. KHALSA
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $208,668
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-25 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9979772

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9979772, Investigating Flotation-REST as a novel technique for reducing anxiety and depression (5R34AT009889-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-14 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9979772. Licensed CC0.

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