title: Self-help relaxation for post-stroke anxiety: a randomised, controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To consider relaxation as a potential treatment for anxiety in stroke survivors living in the community, including feasibility and acceptability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised two group design (intervention and control).
  
  
  METHODS
  All participants (n = 21) were stroke survivors living in the community who reported experiencing anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Anxiety Subscale ⩾ 6).
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention group were asked to listen to a self-help autogenic relaxation CD, five times a week, for at least one month. Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at screening and then monthly for three months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At each assessment following screening, participants who received the relaxation training were significantly more likely to report reduced anxiety compared to those who had not received the training (Month 1 P = 0.002; Month 2 P < 0.001; Month 3 P = 0.001). After one month, seven of the intervention group (n = 10) had completed the relaxation training as directed and planned to continue using it. The intervention appeared practical to deliver and relatively inexpensive, with minimal adverse effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary evidence suggests that autogenic relaxation training delivered in a self-help CD format is a feasible and acceptable intervention, and that anxiety is reduced in stroke survivors who received the intervention. Future studies should seek to recruit a larger and more heterogeneous sample of 70 participants.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neuropsychology Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK katherine.golding@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Golding
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Health Psychology Research Initiative, University of Western Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kneebone
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fife-Schaw
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001326:Autogenic Training / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D013637:Tape Recording; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Stroke; anxiety; self-help relaxation