THE RELATIONSHIP OF EXPECTANCIES TO OUTCOME IN STRESS MANAGEMENT TREATMENT OF ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION - RESULTS FROM THE JOINT USSR-USA BEHAVIORAL HYPERTENSION PROJECT

Outcome expectancy and efficacy expectancy measures were made during t he course of a cross-cultural comparison of thermal biofeedback and au togenic training as treatments for mild essential hypertension. There were no differences between groups at either pre- or posttreatment, an d expectancy measures were not related to initial success or failure a t the completion of treatment. However, both outcome and efficacy expe ctations were related to relapse over the three months immediately fol lowing the completion of treatment. Treatment failures had lower ratin gs for both outcome and efficacy expectations at the posttreatment ass essment in comparison to treatment successes. Implications of these re sults are discussed.