Evaluation of a novel anxiety and trauma intervention at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Résumé

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and psychological trauma are common presentations in general practice and may lead to long-term prescribing and/or time-consuming talking therapies.AIM: To assess the efficacy and acceptability of short 'Gazetherapy' interventions.METHOD: 'The Anxiety Experiment' was delivered as a show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from 1-25 August 2019. Gazetherapy interventions were explained using props to describe polyvagal theory and cranial nerve and cerebellar/hippocampus anatomy and function. BabyGaze (reducing anxiety in the moment), da Vinci Gaze (attenuating stress), and Accessory Gaze (resolving simple trauma) were delivered to audiences of between six and 51 people during