The use of sophrology for anxiety disorders

ISRCTN	ISRCTN10682070
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10682070
Sponsor	University of Lausanne
Funder	Dr Randolph Willis

Submission date: 19/08/2026
Registration date: 20/08/2026
Last edited: 20/08/2026

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Dr Randolph Willis
Principal investigator

Rue de la Paix 11
Montreux
1820
Switzerland

Phone	+41 (0)796689273
Email	dr.willis@hin.ch

Prof Yasser Khazaal
Scientific

Polyclinique d'addictologie - Département de Psychaitrie
Rue du Bugnon 23A
1011 Lausanne
Lausanne
1011
Switzerland

Phone	+41 (0)213148400
Email	yasser.khazaal@unil.ch

Prof Jean-Bernard Daeppen
Public

Polyclinique d'addictologie - Département de Psychaitrie
Rue du Bugnon 23A
1011 Lausanne
Lausanne
1011
Switzerland

Phone	+41 (0)213148698
Email	jean-bernard.daeppen@unil.ch

Study information

Primary study design	Observational
Observational study design	Cohort study
Scientific title	A preliminary study of sophrology: a complementary approach to health
Study objectives	This study evaluates the anti-anxiety effects of sophrology on moderate anxiety in patients.
Ethics approval(s)	Approved 01/12/1994, Cantonal Hospital Service Ethical Commission Psychiatry (Commission d'éthique clinique, Route de Cery 60, Prilly, 1008, Switzerland; +41 (0)213142967; ethique@chuv.ch), ref: 01121994
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Anxiety disorders
Methodology	This pilot study was a single-group, 6-week, pretest-posttest design with multiple outcomes. Following enrollment but prior to initiation of sophrology therapy, participants completed the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A; 0-56 scale; higher scores indicate more anxiety) in the office of the principal investigator (RW). Over the next 7 days (week 1), participants self-administered a salivary cortisol test (0-25 mcg/dl normal range) in the morning, afternoon, and evening of each day (samples were frozen and analyzed by an independent laboratory at Cochin Hospital, Paris); at each cortisol test, participants also completed the Norris Visual Analogical Scale (NVAS) for anxiety (0-100 scale; higher scores indicate more anxiety). During weeks 2-6 participants attended weekly sophrology sessions. During week 6, participants repeated the week 1 protocol. At the end of week 6, the HAM-A was re-administered in the office setting.
Intervention type	Behavioural
Primary outcome measure(s)	Anxiety measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale at before and after 4 weeks of sophrology treatment Anxiety measured using the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A) at three times per day for 7 days before and after 4 weeks of sophrology treatment Anxiety measured using salivary levels of cortisol at three times per day for 7 days before and after 4 weeks of sophrology treatment
Key secondary outcome measure(s)
Completion date	11/04/2016

Eligibility

Participant type(s)
Age group	Adult
Lower age limit	20 Years
Upper age limit	49 Years
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	20
Total final enrolment	20
Key inclusion criteria	Patients with anxiety symptoms that were primarily social/situational and did not require psychotropic medication
Key exclusion criteria	Patients taking medications, abusing substances, or using medications that interfere with cortisol levels
Date of first enrolment	06/01/2000
Date of final enrolment	20/12/2007

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Switzerland

Study participating centres

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No

Editorial Notes

20/08/2026: Study's existence confirmed by the Cantonal Hospital Service Ethical Commission Psychiatry.