PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE-RELAXATION AND GUIDED IMAGERY IN CANCER-PATIENTS

The aim of this study was to gather information on the immediate and l ong-term effects of six sessions of group Progressive Muscle Relaxatio n with Guided Imagery on the psychological distress of self-referred c ancer patients. Patients' psychological distress and coping with cance r were assessed by three self-reports: the Multiple Locus of Control, the Impact Of Events Scale (IES), and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI ). Of the 123 patients who started group therapy, 37 dropped out durin g its course. The 86 patients who completed the intervention showed ma rked improvement on both BSI and IES, an improvement maintained over t he next 6 months in 58 patients who continued assessment through the f ollowup period.