title: Controlled examination of effects of progressive relaxation training on seizure reduction.
abstract: We determined the efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation in reducing seizure frequency. Subjects were 24 people with epilepsy attending an urban neurology clinic. The experimental design consisted of an 8-week baseline period, a treatment period of six sessions of progressive relaxation training (PRT, n = 13) or quiet sitting (QS, n = 11) and an 8-week follow up. In the PRT group, 11 subjects reported a decrease in seizure frequency (p less than 0.01), and in the QS group, 7 reported a decrease (p greater than 0.05). The mean decrease in seizure frequency was 29% for the PRT group (p less than 0.01) but only 3% for the QS group (p greater than 0.05). This is the fifth recent report of a controlled study documenting the success of progressive relaxation therapy in seizure reduction. PRT is inexpensive and noninvasive and facilitates patient participation. Such a technique should be incorporated into clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Program, Chicago Department of Health, Illinois.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Puskarich
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whitman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dell
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Hermann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009790:Occupations; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012923:Social Class; D016896:Treatment Outcome