[A pilot study on the long-term effects of combined drug therapy and psychophysiologically-oriented therapy in patients with severe essential hypertension].
15 patients with a severe degree of essential hypertension, which had not responded satisfactorily to pharmacological management, received an additional regimen of psychophysiological treatment. This schedule consisted of relaxation training, self-recording of the blood pressure by the patients and conversations geared at improving stress management. After 1 year 9 patients showed a lowered mean blood pressure from 162/106 mmHg to 141/95 mmHg (responders). 2 patients were excluded from the study and 4 patients failed to show any lowering of their blood pressure (non-responders). In 6 responders it was possible to reduce the dose of antihypertensive drugs by 8-71%. These results were confirmed over a 4-year follow-up period. Responders and non-responders did not differ with regard to their age, stages and duration of hypertension. Patients with a very high reactivity of blood pressure under psychological stress and a low frankness with regard to their own weaknesses and problems seem to respond to the therapy with a lower probability of success.
Knust
U
U
Institut für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung, Berlin-Buch, Bundesrepublik Deutschland.
Homuth
V
V
Richter-Heinrich
E
E
Busjahn
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012648:Self Care
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
Pilotstudie zur Langzeitwirkung einer kombinierten medikamentösen und psychophysiologisch orientierten Therapie bei Patienten mit einer essentiellen Hypertonie höheren Schweregrades.