The Therapeutic Potential of Thalassotherapy for Enhancing Well-Being and Reducing Pharmaceutical Costs in Individuals with Disabilities

Emanuela Resta¹Madia Lozupone²Preethymol Peter³Lucia Brunone⁴Silvio Tafuri⁵Gennaro Mariano Lenato⁵Aurora Bonvino²Paolo Taurisano^2,6*

• ¹Department of Methods and Models for Economics, Territory and Finance, Faculty of Economics, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Lazio, Italy
• ²Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
• ³Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Lecce, Apulia, Italy
• ⁴Department of Mental Health, Bari Local Health Authority, Bari, Apulia, Italy
• ⁵Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
• ⁶University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

Introduction: Thalassotherapy has shown promising effects on mental and physical well-being. However, its application among individuals with intellectual disabilities, psychiatric disorders, and cognitive impairments remains underexplored. This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of thalassotherapy in reducing pharmaceutical costs and improving well-being among individuals with intellectual disabilities, psychiatric disorders, and cognitive impairments. Materials and Methods: This is an interventional cohort study that involved 144 participants aged 18 to 64 from two residential facilities in Apulia, Italy in 8 weeks. The intervention utilized seawater-based therapies at a certified thalassotherapy center, incorporating muscle awakening, music therapy, and group workshops. Participants underwent psychometric assessments using the VADO, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) before and after the treatment. Results: Thalssotherpy indicated significant reductions in anxiety and depression scores. Specifically, repeated measures ANCOVA revealed a notable decrease in HAM-A (p = 0.012) and BDI (p <0.001) scores, independent of age, gender, education, or diagnosis. These improvements suggest enhanced emotional regulation, increased self-esteem, and greater social participation. Discussion: The findings align with previous research on water-based therapies, highlighting thalassotherapy's holistic benefits. Importantly, the study demonstrates the potential to reduce This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article pharmaceutical dependence, thereby lowering healthcare costs and minimizing medication side effects. Despite its promising outcomes, the research acknowledges limitations, including a relatively small sample size and lack of long-term follow-up. Future studies with larger, diverse populations and controlled comparisons are necessary to validate the sustainability and broader applicability of these findings. Overall, thalassotherapy emerges as a cost-effective, non-pharmacological intervention that can complement traditional treatments, offering a valuable approach to enhancing the physical and psychological health of individuals with disabilities.