Implementation of Rocking Chair Therapy for Veterans in Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment [Formula: see...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health issues significantly contribute to Veteran homelessness.
• Homeless Veterans face unique challenges in managing SUD and mental health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and acceptance of rocking chair therapy for self-managing mood and substance cravings.
• To investigate the impact of vestibular stimulation via rocking chairs on anxiety and substance cravings in homeless Veterans undergoing SUD treatment.

Main Methods:

• A study involving homeless Veterans in SUD treatment.
• Assessed the effect of rocking chair use (vestibular stimulation) compared to treatment as usual.
• Measured changes in anxiety and substance cravings.

Main Results:

• Greater time spent rocking was linked to higher scores on the Alcohol Craving Questionnaire (ACQ) Expectancy scale (p = .05), suggesting self-soothing behavior.
• Increased rocking duration correlated with lower ACQ Purposefulness subscale scores (p = .03), indicating reduced intent to drink.

Conclusions:

• Rocking chair therapy, through vestibular stimulation, may enhance self-regulation of mood and substance cravings.
• This intervention holds potential for reducing relapse risk and recurrent chronic homelessness among Veterans.