Multiple component self-control program for menopausal hot flashes.
Four menopausal women served as their own controls in a study of the application of behavioral methods to the treatment of hot flashes. After a 3-or 4-week baseline period, they received 10 sessions of training in a variety of stress and temperature control techniques, including relaxation, self-suggestions of cool thoughts and images, marital contingency contracting and temperature feedback. The percentage reductions in number of flashes between the last 2 weeks of baseline and the last 2 weeks of training were 41, 75, 76 and 90 for the 4 participants. Treatment gains were maintained at 6-months follow-up. These substantial reductions in frequency of hot flashes offer strong support for the further investigation of the use of behavioral methods as alternatives or additions to medicative therapies.
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002979:Climacteric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012064:Relaxation Therapy