C Natalie van der Wal1, Robin N Kok2. 1. University of Leeds, Leeds University Business School, Centre for Decision Research, Leeds, United Kingdom; Vrije Universiteit, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Department Clinical, Neuro & Developmental Psychology, Section Clinical Psychology, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Vrije Universiteit, Department of Computer Science, Section Artificial Intelligence, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Electronic address: c.n.vanderwal@leeds.ac.uk. 2. Vrije Universiteit, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Department Clinical, Neuro & Developmental Psychology, Section Clinical Psychology, Amsterdam, Netherlands; University of Southern Denmark, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Psychology, Odense, Denmark; Centre for Innovative Medical Technology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. Electronic address: rkok@health.sdu.dk.
Abstract
RATIONALE: Laughter-inducing therapies are being applied more regularly in the last decade, and the number of scientific reports of their beneficial effects is growing. Laughter-inducing therapies could be cost-effective treatments for different populations as a complementary or main therapy. A systematic review and meta-analysis has not yet been performed on these therapies for different populations and outcomes, but is needed to examine their potential benefits. This research aims to broadly describe the field of laughter-inducing therapies, and to estimate their effect on mental and physical health for a broad range of populations and conditions. METHOD: A systematic review of the field was undertaken, followed by a meta-analysis of RCTs and quasi-experimental studies. The systematic review included intervention studies, one-session therapies, lab studies and narrative reviews to provide a broad overview of the field. The meta-analysis included RCTs or quasi-experimental studies that assessed multi-session laughter or humor therapies compared to a control group, performed on people of any age, healthy or with a mental or physical condition. English and non-English articles were searched using PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO and EMBASE. Search terms included laugh(ing), laughter, humo(u)r, program, therapy, yoga, exercise, intervention, method, unconditional, spontaneous, simulated, forced. Studies were classified as using humor ('spontaneous' laughter) or not using humor ('simulated' laughter). RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that (1) 'simulated' (non-humorous) laughter is more effective than 'spontaneous' (humorous) laughter, and (2) laughter-inducing therapies can improve depression. However, overall study quality was low, with substantial risk of bias in all studies. With rising health care costs and the increasing elderly population, there is a potential for low-cost, simple interventions that can be administered by staff with minimal training. Laughter-inducing therapies show a promise as an addition to main therapies, but more methodologically rigorous research is needed to provide evidence for this promise.
RATIONALE: Laughter-inducing therapies are being applied more regularly in the last decade, and the number of scientific reports of their beneficial effects is growing. Laughter-inducing therapies could be cost-effective treatments for different populations as a complementary or main therapy. A systematic review and meta-analysis has not yet been performed on these therapies for different populations and outcomes, but is needed to examine their potential benefits. This research aims to broadly describe the field of laughter-inducing therapies, and to estimate their effect on mental and physical health for a broad range of populations and conditions. METHOD: A systematic review of the field was undertaken, followed by a meta-analysis of RCTs and quasi-experimental studies. The systematic review included intervention studies, one-session therapies, lab studies and narrative reviews to provide a broad overview of the field. The meta-analysis included RCTs or quasi-experimental studies that assessed multi-session laughter or humor therapies compared to a control group, performed on people of any age, healthy or with a mental or physical condition. English and non-English articles were searched using PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO and EMBASE. Search terms included laugh(ing), laughter, humo(u)r, program, therapy, yoga, exercise, intervention, method, unconditional, spontaneous, simulated, forced. Studies were classified as using humor ('spontaneous' laughter) or not using humor ('simulated' laughter). RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that (1) 'simulated' (non-humorous) laughter is more effective than 'spontaneous' (humorous) laughter, and (2) laughter-inducing therapies can improve depression. However, overall study quality was low, with substantial risk of bias in all studies. With rising health care costs and the increasing elderly population, there is a potential for low-cost, simple interventions that can be administered by staff with minimal training. Laughter-inducing therapies show a promise as an addition to main therapies, but more methodologically rigorous research is needed to provide evidence for this promise.
Authors: Shaheja S Bandealy; Nima C Sheth; Samantha K Matuella; Jeremy R Chaikind; Isabelle A Oliva; Samantha R Philip; Paul M Jones; Elizabeth A Hoge Journal: Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ) Date: 2021-06-17
Authors: Lisa Kugler; Christof Kuhbandner; Sarah Gerum; Christian Hierl; Tino Münster; Bernadette Offereins; Lea Sophie Lutterbach Journal: J Pain Res Date: 2021-10-07 Impact factor: 3.133
Authors: Seyla De Francisco; Cristina Torres; Sandra De Andrés; Ana Millet; M Teresa Ricart; Elvira Hernández-Martínez-Esparza; Mercedes Abades; Joan Trujols Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-10-30 Impact factor: 3.390