title: Psychological group treatment of obese essential hypertensives by lay therapists in rural general practice settings.
abstract: Two hundred and sixty-one obese essential hypertension patients from 15 rural general practices were assigned to either an experimental group (n = 155) or to waiting control group (n = 106). The experimental group underwent psychological group treatment aimed at weight reduction, improvement of stress coping, and reduction of salt-intake. Sixteen therapy sessions were conducted in each of the general practices by specifically trained lay therapists who applied a standardized, highly structured therapy programme. During the time of the study, both experimental group and waiting control group received intensified medical attention. After the 6-months therapy, health knowledge and health behaviour of the patients had improved. Mean weight reduction was 5.2 kg. Blood pressure had decreased by a mean of 14.4 mm Hg (systolic)/7.4 mm Hg (diastolic). After a follow-up period of four months, the beneficial effects of the group treatment were confirmed: Patients needed less anti-hypertensive medication and consistent reduction of body weight prevailed.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D005194:Family Practice; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012424:Rural Population