Managing symptoms better with pressure

Deep-pressure vest offers an alternative to drug therapy and other treatments for some mental health disorders.

It looks like a sturdy vest, to be sure, but it is nothing so ordinary. Developed by Therapeutic Systems CEO Brian Mullen, Ph.D., the Vayu Vest uses the concept of deep pressure therapy to treat children with autism spectrum disorder, who can suffer heightened anxiety from sounds and other stimuli that most people wouldn’t even notice. When the vest is inflated to just the right amount of pressure, the child is soothed and better able to manage his or her response. Mullen, a mechanical engineer, worked with an occupational therapist to create the vest. They are pursuing its potential in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention deficit and hyperactivity, as well.