title: Reduction of tremor severity and disability following behavioral relaxation training.
abstract: The effects of behavioral relaxation training (BRT) for the treatment of moderate to severe essential tremor (ET) was evaluated with two older adults, ages 73 and 83, using a single-case design and statistical analysis. Measures included within-session clinician and self-rated tremor severity and disability in activities of daily living (ADL), EMG activity, and daily self-ratings of tremor severity and ADL disabilities. Following a brief 2-4 week baseline period BRT was conducted. Clinically significant reductions of 47-66% in within session clinical and self-rated tremor severity and daily self-ratings were obtained. Statistically significant changes in self- and clinician ratings occurred following BRT. In some cases, EMG activity also declined following intervention. Results at a seven week follow up were mixed and related to continued use of relaxation skills. While the cost ratio (medication: BRT) indicates that relaxation training is more expensive relative to standard medical intervention, cost-benefit to patients off sets the financial difference. Relaxation training may be an efficacious first step in a biobehavioral stepped care treatment model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Education Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, 79968, USA. dlunderv@utep.edu
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lundervold
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Belwood
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Craney
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poppen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014202:Tremor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*