title: Maintenance of relaxation-induced blood pressure reductions: the importance of continued relaxation practice.
abstract: This study examined the long-term importance of continued relaxation practice in the maintenance of relaxation-induced blood pressure reductions. An ABAB withdrawal-reinstatement design was employed with two hypertensive subjects. An objective, unobtrusive measure of home relaxation practice was used to monitor compliance. Subject 1 showed substantial reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure during 3 months of relaxation practice, followed by a 60% return to baseline during withdrawal, and a subsequent decrease with reinstatement of relaxation. Subject 2 showed a pattern similar to that of Subject 1 for systolic blood pressure, though the trend for diastolic pressure was unclear owing to a marginal treatment response. These preliminary data suggest that continued relaxation practice may be an important factor in the maintenance of relaxation-induced blood pressure reductions.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hoelscher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012063:Relaxation; D012064:Relaxation Therapy