48% reduction in perceived stress following 4 weeks of vibroacoustic therapy in clinically stressed adults.
A randomized controlled trial enrolled 61 patients with depressive disorder, divided into two groups: standard psychiatric treatment alone (control) vs. standard treatment with added vibroacoustic therapy sessions (3× per week, 30 min each, 4 weeks).
Stress levels were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS, Cohen 1983) — a validated 14-item tool measuring how unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overwhelming life feels.
Results:
| Baseline | After 4 weeks | |
|---|---|---|
| VAT group | 35.9 pts | 18.5 pts (-48%) |
| Control group | 35.7 pts | 25.7 pts (-28%) |
At baseline, both groups scored above the clinical stress threshold (26 pts). After 4 weeks, the VAT group dropped well below threshold — the control group barely crossed it.
Secondary findings included significant improvements in heart rate variability (RMSSD +90%), positive emotions (+50%) and depression severity (-65%), all statistically significant vs. control (p<0.05).
Mechanism: Low-frequency vibrations activate Pacinian corpuscles → afferent signals via the vagus nerve → autonomic nervous system rebalancing toward parasympathetic dominance.