Relaxation therapy in adult asthma - Is there new evidence for its effectiveness?

Studies of relaxation training for adult asthma patients were reviewed for the period between 1980 and 2000. Six controlled and three uncontrolled stu dies were identified, employing a variety of methods, such as progressive r elaxation, functional relaxation, autogenic training, or yoga. Most studies had low sample sizes and suffered from one or more methodological deficien cies, such as suboptimal data analysis, high dropout rates, problematic mea surement procedures, or insufficient descriptions of methodology and result s. Overall effects on parameters of lung function, symptoms, medication con sumption, and health care use were generally negligible. Problems with the underlying rationale of relaxation therapy in asthma are discussed from a p sychophysiological viewpoint. Examples a-re given of potential beneficial a nd detrimental effects of these techniques on lung function with respect to emotional processes, the musculoskeletal system, and ventilation as target s of a relaxation intervention. It remains to be demonstrated that relaxati on training can significantly contribute to the standard treatment of asthm a in adult patients.