Abstract
The present study compared the effectiveness of three procedures in the treatment of 34 individuals with essential hypertension: (1) stress management training plus relaxation imagery, which consisted of an adaptation of existing stress management techniques in conjunction with extensive relaxation training using relaxation imagery; (2) relaxation imagery alone; and (3) weekly blood pressure checks. The relaxation imagery technique involved visualization of a relaxing image along with concentration on suggestions of relaxation, heaviness, and warmth. Treatment was individualized and lasted 8 weeks. Results indicated stress management plus relaxation imagery and relaxation imagery alone were significantly more effective than blood pressure checks in reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressures during treatment and in maintaining diastolic blood pressure reductions during follow-up. However, no significant differences were found between the two treatment procedures. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benson, H., Shapiro, D., Tursky, B., and Schwartz, G. E. (1971). Decreased systolic blood pressure through operant conditioning techniques in patients with essential hypertension.Science 173: 740–742.
Benson, H., Beary, J. F., and Carol, M. P. (1974a). The relaxation response.Psychiatry 37: 37–46.
Benson, H., Rosner, B. A., Marzetta, B. R., and Klemchuk, H. M. (1974b). Decreased blood pressure in borderline hypertensive subjects who practice meditation.J. Chron. Dis. 27: 163–169.
Benson, H., Rosner, B. A., Marzetta, B. R., and Klemchuk, H. M. (1974c). Decreased blood pressure in pharmacologically treated hypertensive patients who regularly elicited the relaxation response.Lancet 1: 289–291.
Blackwell, B., Hanenson, I., Bloomfield, S., Magenheim, H., Gartside, P., Nidich, S., Robinson, A., and Zigler, R. (1976). Transcendental meditation in hypertension: Individual response patterns.Lancet 1: 223–226.
Brauer, A. P., Horlick, L., Nelson, E., Farquhar, J. W., and Agras, W. S. (1979). Relaxation therapy for essential hypertension: A Veterans Administration outpatient study.J. Behav. Med. 2: 21–29.
Byassee, J. E. (1977). Essential hypertension. In Williams, R. B., and Gentry, W. D. (eds.),Behavioral Approaches to Medical Treatment, Ballinger, Cambridge, Mass.
Byassee, J. E. Farr, S. P., and Meyer, R. G. (1976). Progressive relaxation and autogenic training in the treatment of essential hypertension, Unpublished manuscript.
Crowther, J. H. (1980). Protocols for relaxation imagery technique and stress management training, Unpublished manuscript, University of Vermont, Burlington.
Deabler, H. L., Fidel, E., Dillenkoffer, R. L., and Elder, S. T. (1973). The use of relaxation and hypnosis in lowering high blood pressure.Am. J. Clin. Hypnosis 16: 75–83.
Elder, S. T., and Eustis, N. K. (1975). Instrumental blood pressure conditioning in outpatient hypertensives.Behav. Res. Ther. 13: 185–188.
Elder, S. T., Ruiz, Z. R., Deabler, H. L., and Dillenkoffer, R. L. (1973). Instrumental conditioning of diastolic blood pressure in essential hypertensive patients.J. Appl. Behav. Anal. 6: 377–382.
Frankel, B. L., Patel, D. J., Horwitz, D., Friedewald, W. T., and Gaardner, K. R. (1978). Treatment of hypertension with biofeedback and relaxation techniques.Psychosom. Med. 40: 276–293.
Goldfried, M. (1971). Systematic desensitization as training in self-control.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 37: 228–234.
Goldfried, M. R., and Trier, C. S. (1974). Effectiveness of relaxation as an active coping skill.J. Abnorm. Psychol. 83: 348–355.
Goldman, H., Kleinman, K., Snow, M., Bidus, D., and Korol, B. (1975). Relationship between essential hypertension and cognitive functioning: Effects of biofeedback.Psychophysiology 12: 569–573.
Jacobsen, E. (1938).Progressive Relaxation, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Klumbies, G., and Eberhardt, G. (1966). Results of autogenic training in the treatment of hypertension. In Lopez Ibor, J. J. (ed.),IV World Congress of Psychiatry, Madrid, 5.-11. ix. 1966, Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam.
Kristt, D. A., and Engel, B. T. (1975). Learned control of blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure.Circulation 51: 370–378.
Kroger, W. S. (1977).Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia.
Love, W. A., Montgomery, D. D., and Moeller, T. A. (1973). Working paper number one, Unpublished manuscript, Nova University.
Meichenbaum, D. H. (1977).Cognitive-Behavior Modification, Plenum Press, New York.
Montgomery, D. D., Love, W. A., and Moeller, T. A., (1974). Working paper number two, Unpublished manuscript, Nova University.
Patel, C. H. (1973). Yoga and biofeedback in the management of hypertension.Lancet 2: 1053–1055.
Patel, C. H. (1975). 12-Month follow-up of yoga and biofeedback in the management of hypertension.Lancet 1: 62–65.
Patel, C. H., and North, W. R. S. (1975). Randomized controlled trial of yoga, and biofeedback in management of hypertension.Lancet 2: 93–95.
Patel, C., Marmot, M. G., and Terry, D. J. (1981). Controlled trial of biofeedback-aided behavioral methods in reducing mild hypertension.Br. Med. J. 282: 2005–2008.
Pollack, A. D., Weber, M. A., Case, D. B., and Laragh, J. H. (1977). Limitations of transcendental meditation in the treatment of essential hypertension.Lancet 1: 71–73.
Schultz, J. H., and Luthe, W. (1959).Autogenic Training: A Psychophysiological Approach in Psychotherapy, Grune & Stratton, New York.
Schwartz, G. E., and Shapiro, D. (1973). Biofeedback and essential hypertension. Current findings and theoretical concerns.Semin. Psychiat. 5: 493–503.
Seer, P. (1979). Psychological control of essential hypertension: Review of the literature and methodological critique.Psychol. Bull. 86: 1015–1043.
Shoemaker, J. E., and Tasto, D. L. (1975). The effects of muscle relaxation on blood pressure of essential hypertensives.Behav. Res. Ther. 13: 29–43.
Stone, R. A., and DeLeo, J. (1976). Psychotherapeutic control of hypertension.N. Engl. J. Med. 294: 80–84.
Stoyva, J., and Budzynski, T. (1974). Cultivated low arousal—An antistress response? In DiCara, L. V. (ed.),Limbic and Autonomic Nervous System Research, Plenum, New York.
Suinn, R. M. (1974). Behavior therapy for cardiac patients.Behav. Ther. 5: 569–571.
Suinn, R. (1975). The cardiac stress management program.Card. Rehab. 5: 38–43.
Suinn, R. M. (1977). Type A behavior pattern. In Williams, R. B., and Gentry, W. D. (eds.),Behavioral Approaches to Medical Treatment, Ballinger, Cambridge, Mass.
Suinn, R. M., and Bloom, L. J. (1978). Anxiety management training for Pattern A behavior.J. Behav. Med. 1: 25–35.
Suinn, R. M., Brock, L., and Edie, C. A. (1975). Behavior therapy for Type A patients.Am. J. Cardiol. 36: 269.
Surwit, R. S., Shapiro, D., and Good, M. I. (1978). Comparison of cardiovascular biofeedback, neuromuscular feedback, and meditation in the treatment of borderline hypertension.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 46: 252–263.
Taylor, C. B., Farquhar, J. W., Nelson, E., and Agras, S. (1977). Relaxation therapy and high blood pressure.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 34: 339–342.
Yates, F. (1933). The analysis of replicated experiments when field results are incomplete.Empire J. Exp. Agr. 1: 129–142.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study is based on a doctoral dissertation completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Ph.D. degree from the University of Vermont. The author wishes to thank Harold Leitenberg, Ph.D., for his supervision of this research.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Crowther, J.H. Stress management training and relaxation imagery in the treatment of essential hypertension. J Behav Med 6, 169–187 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00845379
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00845379