EVALUATING THE RESPONSE OF MILD HYPERTENSIVES TO BIOFEEDBACK-ASSISTEDRELAXATION USING A MENTAL STRESS TEST

The objective of this study was to evaluate the long term effect of a program of biofeedback-assisted relaxation on hypertensive patients by mental stress test reactivity. Twenty mild hypertensive patients were subjected to a mental arithmetic stress test before and six months af ter completing biofeedback-assisted relaxation therapy. The therapy co nsisted of 10 sessions of biofeedback-assisted relaxation instruction and continuous home practise. The study group was compared to a contro l group. The biofeedback-assisted relaxation treatment produced a mild improvement in blood pressure control and decreased the dose of drugs used as well as a decrease in state-anxiety (p<0.05). The stress-indu ced increases in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, he art rate, galvanic skin response and skin temperature were all signifi cantly attenuated six months after completion of biofeedback-assisted relaxation treatment. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd