WHICH PATIENTS SHOW THE BEST EFFECTS IN A RESPIRATORY FEEDBACK THERAPY

The physiological and psychological datas of 82 patients with essentia l hypertension, who participated in the treatment group of a respirato ry feedback (RFB) evaluation (Franck et al. 1994), were examined, usin g clusteranalysis, to detect and to describe therapy responders and no nresponders. For patients with usual personality characteristics, acti ve coping strategies and interest in games and technics the best blood -pressure decrease (systolic bp: 13.05 mmHg, diastolic bp: 10.63 mmHg) was found. Furthermore patients, who stopped RFB-treatment have been compared with patients, who finished the treatment program. Patients, who stopped the RFB-treatment, had more psychological symptoms in the sense of psychosomatic complaints.