Muscle relaxation therapy for anxiety disorders: it works but how?

Full Abstract

Muscle relaxation therapy (MRT) has continued to play an important role in the modern treatment of anxiety disorders. Abbreviations of the original progressive MRT protocol [Jacobson, E. (1938). Progressive relaxation (2nd ed.). Chicago:
University of Chicago Press] have been found to be effective in panic disorder (PD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This review describes the most common MRT techniques, summarizes recent evidence of their effectiveness in treating anxiety, and explains their rationale and physiological basis. We conclude that although GAD and PD patients may exhibit elevated muscle tension and abnormal autonomic and respiratory measures during laboratory baseline assessments, the available evidence does not allow us to conclude that physiological activation decreases over the course of MRT in GAD and PD patients, even when patients report becoming less anxious. Better-designed studies will be required to identify the mechanisms of MRT and to advance clinical practice.

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Author information

Author/s: Conrad, Ansgar (A); Roth, Walton T (WT);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. aconrad(-atsign-)stanford.edu

Grants: MH066953-01 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Review

Journal: Journal of anxiety disorders (J Anxiety Disord), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-; vol 21 (issue 3) : pp 243-64

Dates: Created 2007/03/19; Completed 2007/07/03; Revised 2007/12/03;

PMID: 16949248, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Anxiety Disorders - drug therapy; psychology
Humans
Muscle Relaxants, Central - pharmacology; therapeutic use

Muscle Tonus - drug effects
Panic Disorder - drug therapy; psychology
Treatment Outcome

Associated Chemicals: Muscle Relaxants, Central (0)

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