title: Progressive muscle relaxation in persons with schizophrenia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation on psychological distress and anxiety symptoms and on response/remission for people with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trials were considered if they investigated progressive muscle relaxation in patients with schizophrenia. EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, CINAHL, PEDro and Cochrane Library were searched. The selection of studies, data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three randomized controlled trials involving 146 patients met the inclusion criteria. Progressive muscle relaxation can acutely reduce state anxiety and psychological distress and improve subjective well-being. No studies investigated the evidence for progressive muscle relaxation as an add-on treatment for general psychopathology and for positive or negative symptoms. Also, no studies assessed the value of progressive muscle relaxation in longer-term treatment and for relapse prevention. There were no data to draw any conclusions about progressive muscle relaxation in comparison with other treatment modalities. None of the studies encountered adverse events. Dose-response relationships could not be determined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Progressive muscle relaxation might be a useful add-on treatment to reduce state anxiety and psychological distress and improve subjective well-being in persons with schizophrenia.
authors: University Psychiatric Centre Catholic University Leuven, Campus Kortenberg, Kortenberg, Belgium. Davy.Vancampfort@uc-kortenberg.be
authors: Davy
authors: D
authors: Vancampfort
authors: Christoph U
authors: CU
authors: Correll
authors: Thomas W
authors: TW
authors: Scheewe
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Probst
authors: Amber
authors: A
authors: De Herdt
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Knapen
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: De Hert
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000502:physiology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*