The Effects of Self-Monitoring and Relaxation Training on Blood Pressure and Other Related Behaviors In Essential Hypertension.

This study used a multiple baseline design replicated across subjects to examine the effects on blood pressure of two behavioral treatments, self-monitoring alone and self-monitoring combined with relaxation training. The effects of treatments on heart rate, frontalis EMG, respiration and self-reports of tension (SUDS) were also investigated. Finally, changes in the accuracy with which subjects could estimate blood pressure were evaluated.Six subjects with essential hypertension proceeded through four treatment phases : baseline, self-monitoring, self-monitoring and relaxation training (combined-treatment), and follow-up. All subjects received the same number of sessions during each phase except the baseline condition, which was extended for three subjects to assure that any changes noted during the initial treatment were a function of treatment itself rather than time.Statistical analyses performed on each measure yielded significant treatment effects for respiration, frontalis EMG, and SUDS ratings. Respiration decreased significantly within the sessions of each treatment phase, while a significant interaction effect showed that the largest reductions in frontalis EMG were observed within the sessions of the self-monitoring phase. SUDS ratings showed a significant effect with the greatest decreases following relaxation during the combined treatment and follow-up phases.Examination of individual progress through treatments revealed little, if any, change in blood pressure during the self-monitoring phase. During the combined treatment phase, one subject (Subject 4) displayed within-session blood pressure reductions following relaxation, while one subject (Subject 5) exhibited across-sessions reductions in blood pressure. In addition to blood pressure changes, these two subjects showed the largest reductions in frontalis EMG following relaxation in the combined-treatment phase. No relationship was found between changes in blood pressure and changes in the remaining physiological and self-report measures.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Year

1980

Author dc:creator

• Claeren, Lisa Willis

• Blood pressure
• Self-monitoring
• Relaxation training
• Hypertension

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/6923

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.library.uab.edu:etd-collection-7915