Sensory Deprivation - Other Uses

Other Uses

The use of REST has been explored in aiding in the cessation of smoking. In studies ranging between 12 months and 5 years, 25% of REST patients achieved long term abstinence. REST, when combined with other effective smoking cessation methods (for example: behavior modification), resulted in long term abstinence of 50%. Lastly, when combined with weekly support groups, REST resulted in 80% of patients achieving long term abstinence. Comparatively, the use of the nicotine patch alone has a success rate of 5%.

Alcoholism has been the target of research associated with REST. In conjunction with anti-alcohol educational messages, patients who underwent 2 hours of REST treatment reduced alcohol consumption by 56% in the first two weeks after treatment. The reduction in consumption was maintained during follow-ups conducted 3 and 6 months after first treatment.

Results from a study conducted by Washington State University are listed in the table below.

Lastly, REST has been tested to determine its effect on drug abusers. A University of Arizona study used chamber REST as a complement to traditional outpatient substance abuse treatment and found that 43% of the patients after 4 years continued to be sober and drug-free. No one in the control group remained clean after 8 months.