APPLICATION OF THE RELAXATION TECHNIQUE IN GENERAL-HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRY

The present article demonstrates the clinical application and the effi cacy of relaxation techniques in general hospital psychiatry in Japan. During April to December 1993, 20 patients were treated with progress ive muscle relaxation and 'modified' autogenic training therapies. The targeted symptoms were anxiety attacks (or panic attacks), neurotic i nsomnia, hyperventilation syndrome, agoraphobia, chronic pain, and dis tress. Most patients (18/20) improved rapidly with the use of these te chniques and their excellence encourages increased use in general hosp ital psychiatry for the following reasons. First, physically ill patie nts are likely to show unexpected reactions to psychotropic medication s. Second, some patients prefer these treatment methods rather than me dications because they feel that they are participating voluntarily in their own treatment and also because they are fearful of being addict ed to tranquilizers. Third, these treatments have produced rapid impro vement especially for patients with panic attacks and/or hyperventilat ion. This study strongly suggests that progressive muscle relaxation a nd 'modified' autogenic training are simple and useful methods which c an be easily employed in the clinical practice of general hospital psy chiatry.