title: Effects of applied relaxation on vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This work aimed to study the efficacy of group therapy with applied relaxation on vasomotor symptoms and health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this open, randomized controlled trial, 60 healthy postmenopausal women with at least seven moderate to severe hot flashes per 24 hours were randomized to either group therapy with applied relaxation (n = 33) or untreated control group (n = 27) for 12 weeks. A follow-up visit was scheduled 3 months after the end of therapy or participation in the control group. Salivary cortisol was measured three times during a 6-month period. Hot flashes were recorded in self-registered diaries, and health-related quality of life was assessed with the Women's Health Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of hot flashes decreased by 5.0 per 24 hours in the applied relaxation group compared with 1.9 in the control group on the 12th week (P < 0.001) and still remained at the same level at the 3-month follow-up (P < 0.001). Health-related quality of life for vasomotor symptoms, sleep, and memory improved significantly on the 12th week measurement in the applied relaxation group compared with the control group. Salivary cortisol concentration was lowered markedly in the applied relaxation group on a single measurement but was otherwise mainly stable in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Applied relaxation can be used to treat vasomotor symptoms in healthy postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Lotta.lind.astrand@lio.se
authors.forename: Lotta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lindh-Åstrand
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nedstrand
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone