[Arsenic-iron balneotherapy in anxiety syndromes. Controlled clinical study at the Levico thermal baths]

A comparative clinical study was conducted in order to assess the efficacy of arsenic-iron bath treatment in subjects suffering from endogenous reactive anxiety syndromes with somatisation. The study group of 76 subjects included 50 given the classic arsenic-iron bath treatment for two weeks and 26 untreated controls. Zung and Crown self-assessment Rating Scales amplified with items of socioepidemiological interest were completed by all subjects on entry, immediately after treatment and a mean 4 months later. Biometrical analysis of the data collected each time revealed a statistically significant (0.001 less than P less than 0.05) reduction in all parameters evaluated (anxiety, somatisation forms, consumption of drugs and number of medical consultations) among the treated Group. In contrast no significant difference was revealed among the untreated group. In order to verify the possible influence of climate the data on the control group, all local people, were then compared only with data on treated "locals". Here too there was a statistically significant reduction in anxiety and somatisation parameters only among treated subjects. It is therefore clear that the difference between the two groups is solely attributable to the arsenic-iron baths whose therapeutic efficacy is therefore confirmed.