Relaxation Techniques for Use With Patients Suffering

¶ … relaxation techniques for use with patients suffering from schizophrenia. It consisted of the use of progressive muscle relaxation techniques in conjunction with measurements of state anxiety, psychological stress, and of subjective measures of fatigue and well being in schizophrenic patients. The study differentiated state anxiety from trait anxiety and concluded that progressive muscle relaxation therapy is a useful approach to managing anxiety and stress in schizophrenic patients because there was a demonstrable reduction in the anxiety, stress, and fatigue that corresponded to the use of the progressive muscle relaxation technique and that it also corresponded to self-reported positive changes in the well being of the patients after treatment.

Primary Study Objective

The primary study objective was to determine whether a modified use of progressive muscle relaxation therapy techniques could provide therapeutic benefits to schizophrenic patients. More specifically, the patients received weekly 25-minute sessions of progressive muscle relaxation that was incorporated into their existing clinical physiotherapy program of aquatic activities, walking, yoga, physical fitness training, active-lifestyle psycho-education, and cognition-oriented group-related movement sessions. The hypothesis was that providing progressive muscle relaxation therapy to patients would result in measurable benefits in terms of state anxiety, stress levels, and perceptions of well being. The independent variable was the application of progressive muscle relaxation techniques; and the dependent variables were state anxiety, stress levels, fatigue, and subjective perceptions of well being. The hypothesis was supported by the results.

Definition of Three Concepts or Words

State Anxiety -- The level of anxiety experienced by the individual in relation to external circumstances, conditions, and events. It typically varies substantially from circumstance to circumstance and is a function of numerous different situational factors.

Trait Anxiety -- The level of proneness to anxiety of the individual as a constant characteristic of personality or temperament. It typically does vary in relation to external circumstances; instead, it reflects the relative tendency of the individual to experience stress in any given situation.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation -- A technique developed by Edmund Jacobson involving

a lengthy series of 30 or more sessions in which patients learn to relax 30

different muscle groups sequentially. That technique was subsequently shortened to only 16 muscle groups by Bernstein and Borkovec with comparable results.

Reason for Article Selection, Personal Response, and Future Interest in Topic