title: The USA-USSR collaborative cross-cultural comparison of autogenic training and thermal biofeedback in the treatment of mild hypertension.
abstract: We have conducted a cross-cultural (USA and USSR) comparison of thermal biofeedback (TBF) and autogenic training (AT) to a self-relaxation control condition in 59 unmedicated males with mild hypertension. Identical assessment and treatment protocols were carried out in both settings (Albany, New York, and Moscow). Treatments were delivered in small groups on an outpatient basis twice per week for 10 weeks. Results showed comparable, significant (p less than .05), short-term decreases (M = 8.5 mm Hg) in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) for both treatments at both sites. However, the Soviet patients, starting with significantly (p less than .01) higher systolic blood pressures (SBPs), showed significant decreases (M = 12.8 mm Hg) in SBP, whereas the American patients did not change appreciably (M = 4.6 mm Hg). During follow-up, the treated Soviet patients showed significantly (p less than .05) better maintenance of treatment effects, from 3 months to 1 year, than did the American patients. At 1 year, 75% of the treated Soviet patients had DBPs less than 90 mm Hg, whereas only 24% of the American patients had comparable DBPs.
authors.affiliation: Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, State University of New York, Albany 12203.
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Khramelashvili
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Aivazyan
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McCaffrey
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Salenko
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Musso
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wittrock
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gerardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001326:Autogenic Training / Q000379:methods*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D014586:USSR; D014481:United States