Effects of education and relaxation training with essential hypertension patients.
Thirty subjects with essential hypertension were assigned randomly to either a no treatment control, education, or education with relaxation training group. Independent blood pressure recordings were collected by medical staff at pretest, posttest, and 8-week follow-up. Results suggest a significant interaction between treatment and time for the dependent physiological measure, systolic blood pressure. During the pretest to follow-up period, the control group averaged a 5.9 mm. Hg. increase, the education with relaxation group an 8.8 mm. Hg. decrease, and the education group a 14.9 mm. Hg. decrease in systolic blood pressure. There was no significant difference in group means for diastolic blood pressure within groups over time. As measured at follow-up, education appeared more effective in reducing systolic blood pressure than education with relaxation training. More than one-third of subjects associated unpleasant side effects with their antihypertensive medication. Almost all treatment subjects rated the education and relaxation as helpful for understanding and managing their hypertension.
LaGrone
R
R
Psychology Service, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas 79920-5001.
Jeffrey
T B
TB
Ferguson
C L
CL
D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents