Functional Relaxation and Guided Imagery as Complementary Therapy in Asthma: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Lahmann, C. and Nickel, M. and Schuster, T. and Sauer, N. and Ronel, J. and Noll-Hussong, M. and Tritt, K. and Nowak, D. and Roehricht, F. and Loew, T. (2009) Functional Relaxation and Guided Imagery as Complementary Therapy in Asthma: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS, 78 (4). pp. 233-239. ISSN 0033-3190, 1423-0348

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Abstract

Background: Asthma is a frequently disabling and almost invariably distressing disease that has a high overall prevalence. Although relaxation techniques and hypnotherapeutic interventions have proven their effectiveness in numerous trials, relaxation therapies are still not recommended in treatment guidelines due to a lack of methodological quality in many of the trials. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the efficacy of the brief relaxation technique of functional relaxation (FR) and guided imagery (GI) in adult asthmatics in a randomized controlled trial. Methods: 64 patients with extrinsic bronchial asthma were treated over a 4-week period and assessed at baseline, after treatment and after 4 months, for follow-up. 16 patients completed FR, 14 GI, 15 both FR and GI (FR/GI) and 13 received a placebo relaxation technique as the control intervention (CI). The forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1) as well as the specific airway resistance (sR(aw)) were employed as primary outcome measures. Results: Participation in FR, GI and FR/GI led to increases in FEV 1 (% predicted) of 7.6 +/- 13.2, 3.3 +/- 9.8, and 8.3 +/- 21.0, respectively, as compared to -1.8 +/- 11.1 in the CI group at the end of the therapy. After follow-up, the increases in FEV 1 were 6.9 +/- 10.3 in the FR group, 4.4 +/- 7.3 in the GI and 4.5 +/- 8.1 in the FR/GI, compared to -2.8 +/- 9.2 in the CI. Improvements in sR(aw) (% predicted) were in keeping with the changes in FEV 1 in all groups. Conclusions: Our study confirms a positive effect of FR on respiratory parameters and suggests a clinically relevant long-term benefit from FR as a nonpharmacological and complementary therapy treatment option. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE-RELAXATION; BRONCHIAL-ASTHMA; SYMPTOMS; INTERVENTION; TERBUTALINE; IMPROVEMENT; PREVALENCE; EDUCATION; EFFICACY; MODERATE; Asthma; Functional relaxation; Guided imagery; Body psychotherapy; Randomized controlled trial
Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine
Divisions: Medicine > Abteilung für Psychosomatische Medizin
Depositing User: Dr. Gernot Deinzer
Date Deposited: 14 Oct 2020 05:05
Last Modified: 14 Oct 2020 05:05
URI: https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/29874

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