Meditation. A major analysis reported that meditative techniques, especially transcendental meditation (TM), were associated with reduced anxiety. TM uses a mantra (a word that has a specific chanting sound but no meaning). The meditator repeats the word silently, letting thoughts come and go. (Note: Most research on TM has been conducted by the founding organization. A number of other meditative techniques are available that may be equally beneficial.) The only potential risks from meditating are in people with psychosis in whom meditating may trigger a psychotic event.
Relaxation Techniques. Relaxation methods, such as learning how to gradually relax one's muscles, may also be helpful. In one study, relaxation was as helpful for patients with GAD as cognitive therapy.
Acupuncture. One small study reported that acupuncture relieved anxiety before surgery. Whether this study has any relevance to anxiety disorders is unknown.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Other Neurostimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses high frequency magnetic pulses to target and stimulate specific areas of the brain. Research has particularly focused on possible benefits for obsessive-compulsive behavior. Some studies have found some improvement in mood, but more research is needed to determine its value for reducing anxiety and obsessions.
In 2006, the U.S. National Institutes of Health funded a large study to examine whether deep brain stimulation (DBS) can help patients with OCD. DBS involves implanting tiny stimulators into the brain to block abnormal nerve signals that cause obsessive symptoms. These “brain pacemakers” are approved to treat epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. Researchers hope that DBS may eventually provide a new treatment option for patients with severe OCD.
Surgery
A surgical technique called cingulotomy involves interrupting the cingulate gyrus, a bundle of nerve fibers in the front of the brain. It is sometimes used as a last resort for patients with severe OCD. A variation of this procedure using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide the surgeon has resulted in long-term improvement in about 25 - 33% of OCD patients in whom it is performed. The procedure is generally safe with few serious complications and does not affect intellect or memory.
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