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Relaxation Therapy and High Blood Pressure

Relaxation Therapy and High Blood Pressure Abstract • Thirty-one patients receiving medical treatment for essential hypertension were randomly distributed into three groups: (1) relaxation therapy, (2) nonspecific therapy, and (3) medical treatment only. The nonspecific therapy group spent the same amount of time with the therapists as the relaxation group but was not given a specific therapy. Blood pressures were measured at a different time and in a different place from the behavioral treatments. The relaxation therapy group showed a significant reduction in blood pressure posttreatment compared with the nonspecific therapy and medical treatment only groups, even when those patients whose medication was increased were excluded from the data analysis. At follow-up six months posttreatment, the relaxation group showed a slight decrement in treatment effects, while both the nonspecific therapy and medical treatment only groups showed continued improvement; thus, there was not a significant difference between groups. References 1. Benson H, Rosner BA, Marzetta BR, et al: Decreased blood pressure in pharmacologically treated hypertensive patients who regularly elicited the relaxation response . Lancet 1:289-291, 1974.Crossref 2. Brady JP, Luborsky L, Kron RE: Blood pressure reduction in patients with essential hypertension through metronome-conditioned relaxation: A preliminary report . Behav Ther 5:203-209, 1974.Crossref 3. Deabler HK, Fidel E, Dillenkoffer RI, et al: The use of relaxation and hypnosis in lowering high blood pressure . Am J Clin Hypn 16:75-83, 1973.Crossref 4. Patel CH: Twelve-month follow-up of yoga and biofeedback in the management of hypertension . Lancet 2:62-64, 1975.Crossref 5. Patel CH, North WR: Randomised controlled trial of yoga and biofeedback in management of hypertension . Lancet 2:93-95, 1975.Crossref 6. Goldring W, Chasis H, Schreiner GE, et al: Reassurance in management of benign hypertensive disease . Circulation 14:260-264, 1956.Crossref 7. Marquis D: Relaxation Tape and Instruction Manual . Los Altos, Calif, Self-Management School, 1974. 8. Stamler J: Epidemiology of hypertension: Achievements and challenges , in Moser M (ed): Hypertension: A Practical Approach . Boston, Little Brown & Co, 1975. 9. Benson H, Beary JF, Carol MP: The relaxation response . Psychiatry 37:37-46, 1974. 10. Stone RA, DeLeo J: Psychotherapeutic control of hypertension . N Engl J Med 294:80-84, 1976.Crossref 11. Weinshiboum R, Axelrod J: Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activeity . Circ Res 28:307-315, 1971.Crossref 12. Shoemaker JE, Tasto DL: The effects of muscle relaxation on blood pressure of essential hypertensives . Behav Res Ther 13:29-43, 1975.Crossref 13. Brener J: Factors influencing the specificity of voluntary cardiovascular control , in Dicara L (ed): Limbic and Autonomic Nervous Systems Research . New York, Plenum Press, 1974, pp 335-368. 14. Veterans Administration Cooperative Study Group on Antihypertensive Agents: II. Results in patients with diastolic blood pressure over 90-114 mm Hg . JAMA 213:1143-1152, 1970.Crossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of General Psychiatry American Medical Association

Relaxation Therapy and High Blood Pressure

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References (15)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1977 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-990X
eISSN
1598-3636
DOI
10.1001/archpsyc.1977.01770150097011
Publisher site
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Abstract

Abstract • Thirty-one patients receiving medical treatment for essential hypertension were randomly distributed into three groups: (1) relaxation therapy, (2) nonspecific therapy, and (3) medical treatment only. The nonspecific therapy group spent the same amount of time with the therapists as the relaxation group but was not given a specific therapy. Blood pressures were measured at a different time and in a different place from the behavioral treatments. The relaxation therapy group showed a significant reduction in blood pressure posttreatment compared with the nonspecific therapy and medical treatment only groups, even when those patients whose medication was increased were excluded from the data analysis. At follow-up six months posttreatment, the relaxation group showed a slight decrement in treatment effects, while both the nonspecific therapy and medical treatment only groups showed continued improvement; thus, there was not a significant difference between groups. References 1. Benson H, Rosner BA, Marzetta BR, et al: Decreased blood pressure in pharmacologically treated hypertensive patients who regularly elicited the relaxation response . Lancet 1:289-291, 1974.Crossref 2. Brady JP, Luborsky L, Kron RE: Blood pressure reduction in patients with essential hypertension through metronome-conditioned relaxation: A preliminary report . Behav Ther 5:203-209, 1974.Crossref 3. Deabler HK, Fidel E, Dillenkoffer RI, et al: The use of relaxation and hypnosis in lowering high blood pressure . Am J Clin Hypn 16:75-83, 1973.Crossref 4. Patel CH: Twelve-month follow-up of yoga and biofeedback in the management of hypertension . Lancet 2:62-64, 1975.Crossref 5. Patel CH, North WR: Randomised controlled trial of yoga and biofeedback in management of hypertension . Lancet 2:93-95, 1975.Crossref 6. Goldring W, Chasis H, Schreiner GE, et al: Reassurance in management of benign hypertensive disease . Circulation 14:260-264, 1956.Crossref 7. Marquis D: Relaxation Tape and Instruction Manual . Los Altos, Calif, Self-Management School, 1974. 8. Stamler J: Epidemiology of hypertension: Achievements and challenges , in Moser M (ed): Hypertension: A Practical Approach . Boston, Little Brown & Co, 1975. 9. Benson H, Beary JF, Carol MP: The relaxation response . Psychiatry 37:37-46, 1974. 10. Stone RA, DeLeo J: Psychotherapeutic control of hypertension . N Engl J Med 294:80-84, 1976.Crossref 11. Weinshiboum R, Axelrod J: Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activeity . Circ Res 28:307-315, 1971.Crossref 12. Shoemaker JE, Tasto DL: The effects of muscle relaxation on blood pressure of essential hypertensives . Behav Res Ther 13:29-43, 1975.Crossref 13. Brener J: Factors influencing the specificity of voluntary cardiovascular control , in Dicara L (ed): Limbic and Autonomic Nervous Systems Research . New York, Plenum Press, 1974, pp 335-368. 14. Veterans Administration Cooperative Study Group on Antihypertensive Agents: II. Results in patients with diastolic blood pressure over 90-114 mm Hg . JAMA 213:1143-1152, 1970.Crossref

Journal

Archives of General Psychiatry – American Medical Association

Published: Mar 1, 1977

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