Researchers have found that exposure to human odors, specifically chemo-signals from sweat, may improve treatments for mental health conditions like social anxiety. In a pilot study presented at the European Congress of Psychiatry, participants undergoing mindfulness therapy while exposed to these odors experienced a significantly greater reduction in anxiety compared to those receiving mindfulness therapy alone. The emotional state of the sweat donors was shown to have no effect on the treatment outcomes, indicating the potential for the chemo-signals to universally enhance treatment response. The study involved 48 women with social anxiety, divided into groups exposed to different sweat odors linked to emotional films, while a control group received clean air. Results showed a 39% reduction in anxiety scores for those exposed to the odors, compared to a 17% reduction in the control group. Although promising, researchers, including lead author Ms. Elisa Vigna, emphasize the need for further studies to confirm these findings and explore the therapeutic potential of sweat compounds. This research could lead to new methods to support social anxiety treatment and enhance existing e-health interventions. The work is part of the EU-funded Horizon2020 project, POTION, aimed at understanding the role of emotional body odors in social interactions.
