The psychophysiology of generalized anxiety disorder: 2. Effects of applied relaxation.

Full Abstract

Muscle relaxation therapy assumes that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) patients lack the ability to relax but can learn this in therapy. We tested this by randomizing 49 GAD patients to 12 weeks of Applied Relaxation (AR) or waiting. Before, during, and after treatment participants underwent relaxation tests. Before treatment, GAD patients were more worried than healthy controls (n=21) and had higher heart rates and lower end-tidal pCO2, but not higher muscle tension (A. Conrad, L. Isaac, & W.T. Roth, 2008). AR resulted in greater symptomatic improvement than waiting. However, 28% of the AR group dropped out of treatment and some patients relapsed at the 6-week follow-up. There was little evidence that AR participants learned to relax in therapy or that a reduction in anxiety was associated with a decrease in activation. We conclude that the clinical effects of AR in improving GAD symptoms are moderate at most and cannot be attributed to reducing muscle tension or autonomic activation.

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Author information

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

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, and the Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA.

Grants: MH066953-01 (Agency:United States NIMH)

Journal and publication information

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

Journal: Psychophysiology (Psychophysiology), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-May; vol 45 (issue 3) : pp 377-88

Dates: Created 2008/04/10; Completed 2008/06/30;

PMID: 18221441, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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.

Adult
Anxiety Disorders - physiopathology; therapy
Carbon Dioxide - metabolism
Electromyography
Female
Heart Rate - physiology
Humans
Male

Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Contraction - physiology
Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology
Questionnaires
Relaxation Techniques
Sample Size
Treatment Outcome

Associated Chemicals: Carbon Dioxide (124-38-9)

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