Research

We are early on the wave of measurable, standardized research on the benefits of the use of multi-sensory rooms. Though there is much anecdotal information about the benefit of using multi-sensory rooms with autism spectrum disorders and inpatient psychiatric settings, the use and equipment in the multi-sensory rooms has varied widely room-to-room, with the standardization necessary for meaningful comparison unavailable. In addition, sensory processing is multifactorial, complex, and difficult to isolate in research. However, other evidence-based treatment models which employ sensory rich activities— such as Dr. Marsha Linehan’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy (Linehan, n.d) — have been used with great effectiveness since the 1990s.

Multi-sensory therapy is being shown to have significant and sometimes highly significant changes in reduction of pain experienced between control groups and experimental groups (Schofield‚ 2000). In addition to reduction in sensory pain and pain rating index, multi sensory therapy is being shown to have significance in reduction in depression and disability of functioning in areas such as physical, psychosocial, and sleep (Schofield‚ 2000). Additionally‚ the appropriate use of a multi-sensory environment provides powerful tools for de-escalation, empowerment, choice, increasing awareness‚ and skill development (Champagne‚ 2004). Sensory rooms help in stimulating and modulating arousal levels and in facilitating self-organization and self-regulation.

The first multi sensory rooms were developed in the Netherlands by Jan Hulsegge and Ad Verheul in 1975, initially for people with profound physical and mental limitations. These rooms, named Snoezelen® rooms, have more recently been the subject of study for their effectiveness in psychiatric treatment settings. A study in 2004 (Reddon, Hoang‚ Sehgal‚ & Marjanovic, 2004) determined:

“The effectiveness of Snoezelen® multi-sensory stimulation treatment with 50 psychiatric patients (25 men‚ 25 women) and 50 hospital employees (25 men‚ 25 women). Pre- and post-treatment physiological responses (galvanic skin conductance response‚ heart rate‚ and percentage blood oxygen) were compared and participants were evaluated post-treatment for perceived psychological benefits with a nine-item questionnaire. Results indicate that participation in a single 20-minute Snoezelen® session had significant and positive physiological effects on both the patient and staff groups. Also‚ post-treatment participants in both groups felt more sleepy, passive, relaxed, cheerful, focused, optimistic‚ calm‚ and comfortable. Consequently, beneficial physiological and psychological Snoezelen® treatment effects were apparent for both patients and controls.” 

Currently SensoryWorks™ is involved in a study examining multi sensory room interventions in the dual-diagnosis setting. We are positing that patients in the experimental group will have decreased anxiety, agitation, and pain scale rating vs. the control group with no multi sensory room interventions. 

References

Champagne, T. & Stromberg, N. (2004) Sensory approaches in inpatient psychiatric settings: Innovative alternatives to seclusion and restraint. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 42(9), 34-44.

Linehan, Marsha (n.d) DBT: Effective and Evidence-Based. Retrieved from  http://www.linehaninstitute.org/research.php

Reddon‚ J. R.; Hoang‚ T., Sehgal‚ S., & Marjanovic, Z. (Fall 2004). Immediate effects of snoezelen® treatment on adult psychiatric patients and community controls. Current Psychology, Volume 2’‚ Issue 3‚ pp 225-237

Schofield, P. (2000) The effects of Snoezelen on chronic pain. Nursing Standard, 15, 33–34.