A meta-analysis of 14 quasi-experimental studies was conducted to compare the effect of size on various relaxation therapies applied to patients and health volunteer students. These studies were selected from theses, dissertations and papers that have been done between 1982 to 1993. Also They have a randomized or nonequivalent control group in a pre test-post test design. The studies were evaluated in different ways; 1) types of relaxation therapy, 2) total amount of time of relaxation therapy, and 3) types of outcome variables. For a group of homogenious studies, the weighted mean effect size and standard error were estimated. Some findings are summarized as follows : 1. Jacobson relaxation therapy had a larger effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressures than on state anxiety. 2. For the total time of relaxation therapy, (longer than 60 minutes) had a much larger effect in decreasing systolic and diastolic blood pressures than in the case of a time period shorter than 60 minutes. 3. Relaxation therapy applied to surgery patients also had a larger effect in decreasing state anxiety than when applied to other patients.
Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure* ; Humans ; Relaxation Therapy* ; Relaxation* ; Volunteers

A meta-analysis of 14 quasi-experimental studies was conducted to compare the effect of size on various relaxation therapies applied to patients and health volunteer students. These studies were selected from theses, dissertations and papers that have been done between 1982 to 1993. Also They have a randomized or nonequivalent control group in a pre test-post test design. The studies were evaluated in different ways; 1) types of relaxation therapy, 2) total amount of time of relaxation therapy, and 3) types of outcome variables. For a group of homogenious studies, the weighted mean effect size and standard error were estimated. Some findings are summarized as follows : 1. Jacobson relaxation therapy had a larger effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressures than on state anxiety. 2. For the total time of relaxation therapy, (longer than 60 minutes) had a much larger effect in decreasing systolic and diastolic blood pressures than in the case of a time period shorter than 60 minutes. 3. Relaxation therapy applied to surgery patients also had a larger effect in decreasing state anxiety than when applied to other patients.
Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure* ; Humans ; Relaxation Therapy* ; Relaxation* ; Volunteers

OBJECTIVES: Emotional support and a stress management program should be simultaneously provided to clients as effective preventive services for healthy behavioral change. This study was conducted to review various relaxation and meditation intervention methods and their applicability for a preventive service program. METHODS AND RESULTS: The author of this paper tried to find various relaxation and meditation programs through a literature review and program searching and to introduce them. The 'Relaxation Response' and 'Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)' are the most the widely used meditative programs in mainstream medical systems. Abdominal breathing, Progressive Musclular Relaxation (PMR), Relaxative Imagery, Autogenic Training (AT) and Biofeedback are other well-known techniques for relaxation and stress management. I have developed and implemented some programs using these methods. Relaxation and meditation classes for cancer patients and a meditation based stress coping workshop are examples of this program. CONCLUSIONS: Relaxation and meditation seem to be good and effective methods for primary, secondary and tertiary preventive service programs. Program development and standardization and further study are needed for more and wider use of the mind-body approach in the preventive service area of medicine.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Humans ; *Meditation ; *Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical ; Mind-Body Therapies ; *Preventive Health Services ; Primary Prevention ; *Relaxation Therapy ; Secondary Prevention ; Stress, Psychological/prevention & control/*therapy ; Tertiary Prevention

Mind-body medicine (MBM) is a field of medicine concerned with the ways that the mind and emotions influence the body and physical health. It may be more accurate to think of mind/body as a single entity, with the health of one part necessarily influencing that of the other. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines MBM techniques (MBT) as interventions that use a variety of techniques designed to facilitate the mind's capacity to affect bodily functions and symptoms. MBT offers patients with greater control in their treatment, cheaper alternatives, effective options for managing chronic conditions, and methods for maintaining wellness. Mind-body approaches include guided imagery, meditation, hypnosis, and movement therapies such as dance, tai chi, chi gong, and yoga as well as music and chanting. Such approaches are as old as traditional oriental healing systems and as widespread as seen in Chinese, Indian, and East Asians. Modern Western medicine is now beginning to give MBTs recognition in its importance as well as efficacy. This article reviews the medical literatures on the techniques that have been studied the most: relaxation therapy, meditation, hypnosis, cognitive-behavioral therapy guided imagery, and biofeedback.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biofeedback, Psychology ; Humans ; Hypnosis ; Imagery (Psychotherapy) ; Integrative Medicine ; Meditation ; Mind-Body Therapies ; Music ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Relaxation Therapy ; Singing ; Tai Ji ; Yoga

PURPOSE: Women who undergo gynecological surgery have moderate and severe sensation and distress of pain despite the advent of patient controlled analgesia (PCA). The purposes of this study were to describe perception of non-pharmacological therapy for postoperative pain control and examine changes of pain sensation and distress in women who had gynecological surgery. METHOD: The sample consisted of 52 women who were having gynecological surgery. Subjects who agreed to participate in the study were asked for their opinion about non-pharmacological approaches for postoperative pain control using a structured study questionnaire. Pain sensation and distress were assessed by VAS in the morning and afternoon for 2 days following the surgery. RESULT: About 50% of the subjects thought that non-pharmacological methods such as relaxation, music, massage, or meditation would be helpful for their postoperative pain control. If both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy were given for pain control, 96% of subjects reported it would be effective. Nurses can apply techniques of relaxation, deep breathing, meditation, and music therapy to surgical patients along with PCA. Expected sensation and distress of pain was high, but pain levels gradually decreased over time. However, subjects experienced moderate levels of pain postoperatively although they used PCA. CONCLUSION: The effect of a combined method of pharmacological and non-pharmacological approach needs to be tested if postoperative pain is to be decreased more.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures* ; Humans ; Massage ; Meditation ; Music ; Music Therapy ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Relaxation ; Respiration ; Sensation

In treatment of depression, non-pharmacological treatment is as important as pharmacological treatment. However, in clinical practice in Korea, non-pharmacological treatment is not provided sufficiently and patients are not satisfied with psychiatric interviews. Accordingly, patients ask for more information from clinicians. Clinicians should be aware of the characteristics of depression in Korean patients, because the manifestations of symptoms are influenced by cultural factors. In particular, depressed patients complain about somatic symptoms more frequently than they complain about depressed mood itself. In order to establish a therapeutic relationship with depressed patients, clinicians should be aware of these characteristics of depressed patients and clinicians should also address the needs of their patients. The author introduces evidence-based self-care methods for Korean patients with depression. St. John's wort, acupuncture, air ionization, light therapy, massage bibliotherapy, exercise, meditation, relaxation, and yoga can be helpful for overcoming depression. Among them, the Clinical Research Center for Depression, an organization supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, has recommended several non-pharmacological treatments for depression. First of all, exercise, such as walking more than 30 min. everyday, is strongly recommended. Other recommendations include bibliotherapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and short-term psychodynamic supportive psychotherapy. For the nationwide management of depression, social bias against the treatment of depression should be reduced and non-pharmacological treatment for depression should be encouraged.
Acupuncture ; Air Ionization ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Bibliotherapy ; Cognitive Therapy ; Depression ; Humans ; Hypericum ; Korea ; Massage ; Meditation ; Phototherapy ; Psychotherapy ; Relaxation ; Self Care ; Walking ; Yoga

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise therapy and relaxation therapy on catecholamine and heart rate in people in white color jobs and to determine this information the effectiveness of applied exercise therapy and relaxation therapy as a nursing intervention method for stress patients. The subjects were divided into an exercise therapy group, a relaxation therapy group, and control group and the research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-post test design(exercise therapy : n=12, relaxation therapy : n=12, control group, the group without any treatment in exercise on relaxation therapy : n=12). The subjects in the exercise therapy group were given a particular intensity for each kp during 30min, bicycle ergometer which is using an LX PE training system before & after 4weeks of training. The exercise therapy that was used was Astrard load method which tested absolute exercise load of heart rate before & after four weeks, and resting heart rate was tested for exercise and relaxation therapy before, after four weeks, and at eight weeks. The results of each kp & absolute exercise load were calculated with the target rate formula(maximal heart rate-rest heart rate) x exercise intensity(%) rest heart rate so the subjects could continue 60-70% exercise intensity for exercise therapy over eight weeks. The relaxation therapy subjects were trained using a modified Jacobson's relaxation technique for eight weeks. The exercise and relaxation therapy were trained at the following intensity for eight weeks(3 times/week, 30 min/day) to see changes in catecholamine & heart rates. After eight weeks, statistical analysis of exercise & relaxation therapy were carried out Two-way ANOVA and multiple range test(SNK : Student Newman Keul) were used. The results are as follows : 1. The change of epinephrine & norepinephrine in the exercise therapy, relaxation therapy, and control group was statistically significant at the .05 level after four weeks & eight weeks. Also, exercise therapy was statistically significant at .05 level over that of the control group after 4 weeks. 2. The change of heart rate in relaxation therapy was statistically significant at the .05 level, and was statistically significant at the .05 level over that of the exercise therapy and control group. In conclusion, it is obvious that exercise therapy and relaxation therapy should be one of the most effective stress treatment and desirable nursing interventions methods for job stress in people in white color jobs.
Epinephrine ; Exercise Therapy* ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Norepinephrine ; Nursing ; Relaxation Therapy* ; Relaxation* ; Research Design

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise therapy and relaxation therapy on the level of ACTH and cortisol in workers and to determine, from this information, the effectiveness of applied exercise therapy and relaxation therapy as a nursing intervention method for workers experiencing stress. METHOD: The subjects were divided into an exercise therapy group, a relaxation therapy group, and a control group. The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design (exercise therapy: n=12, relaxation therapy: n=12, control group, the group without exercise or relaxation therapy: n=12). The subjects in the exercise therapy group were given a particular intensity for each kp over 30 min, bicycle ergometer which uses the LX PE training system before and after four weeks of training. The subjects did 60-70% exercise intensity exercise therapy for eight weeks. The relaxation therapy subjects were trained using a modified Jacobson's relaxation technique for eight weeks. The exercise and relaxation therapy groups were trained at the following intensity for eight weeks (3 times/week, 30 min/day). Changes in the levels of ACTH and cortisol were identified. Two-way ANOVA and multiple range test (SNK: Student Newman Keul) were used to examine the effects of exercise therapy and relaxation therapy at four and eight weeks.. RESULT: 1. Changes in the level of ACTH in the relaxation therapy group were statistically significant at .05 level, and were better than that of the exercise therapy group after eight weeks. But there was no significant difference between the exercise therapy group and the control group. 2. Change in the level of cortisol in the relaxation therapy group were statistically significant at .05 level as compared to the exercise therapy group and the control group after four weeks, but not after eight weeks. Also, the relaxation therapy was statistically significant at .05 level after four weeks compared to before treatment, but there was a tendency toward increased cortisol after eight weeks. CONCLUSION: Relaxation therapy was found to be more effective in stress treatment than exercise therapy and as such is a desirable nursing intervention method for stress hormone reduction in workers.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone* ; Exercise Therapy* ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Nursing ; Relaxation Therapy* ; Relaxation* ; Research Design

Adrenal fatigue is a symptom complex occurring when chronic stress overwhelms one's own adaptation reserve. Morning fatigue, decreased performance, irritability, depressed mood, poor concentration, general myalgia, insomnia, cravings for stimulants, hypoglycemia, postural dizziness are the main symptoms. Adrenal fatigue or exhaustion is not a new concept. Selye presented the concept as a general adaptation syndrome to stress nearly 70 years ago, but it is still a valuable one. It is not easy to measure adrenal function; nowadays salivary cortisol/dehydroepiandrosterone levels taken many times in a day has developed and used frequently. A lot of psychological methods and relaxation techniques including relaxation response, proper nutrition with supplements/herbs, deep sleep and rest, graded exercises and social supports make the patients recover from the state. Diagnostic methods or managements must be developed more to handle this syndrome easily because this syndrome has become much more prevalent than during the last century due to rapid changes and instability of modern societies.
Dizziness ; Exercise ; Fatigue ; General Adaptation Syndrome ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Relaxation ; Relaxation Therapy ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Many people in Korea suffer from a fear of dental treatments; however, only a few studies have focused on this population. This study assessed the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and its interventions in reducing dental anxiety, especially when administered by trained dental staff. Using case studies, the authors analyzed the content of each session and examined the process of reducing dental anxiety. First, the authors observed that the results of both dental fear scale and subjective unit of disturbance decreased significantly with changes in cognitive distortions related to dental anxiety and that rapid improvements were noted after two therapy sessions. Second, the study reported that practicing relaxation (deep-breathing) and muscle relaxation techniques; using hand signals to indicate anxiety or discomfort; establishing an empathic relationship with the therapist; making an anxiety list; and graded insensitive and exposure along with rehearsal, were effective in coping with dental anxiety and in changing negative thoughts towards the dentist. Third, a simple cognitive behavioral intervention can be effective in reducing dental anxiety. In summary, a short-term, five-session psychological intervention with CBT produced a sustained decrease in the symptoms of dental anxiety, allowing the patients to receive the required procedures. The authors discussed the study limitations and the implication of their results on future research.
Anxiety ; Cognitive Therapy* ; Dental Anxiety* ; Dental Staff ; Dentists ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Muscle Relaxation ; Qualitative Research ; Relaxation